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BLOSSOMS 


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(1 



A Little Almond Blossom 




LITTLE 


ALMOND BLOSSOMS 

A Book of Chinese Stories 
for Children 


BY 

JESSIE JULIET KNOX 


With Illustrations from Photographs of Chinese Children 
in California 


BOSTON 

LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 
1904 


rr?S2!r: 

LfBPrtt?V ;inM«RF8S 
TWo <>npies 9wfl*ve(j 

OCT 10 1904 

I . Doowlehl Eiwrv 
CLASS a xxo. No. 

^ S-^3S. 

/ COPY B 


Copyright, igo4. 

By Little, Brown, and Company. 

All rights reserved 


Published October, 1904 



THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. 


This Book is lovingly 'Dedicated 
to 

MT MOTHER 




CONTENTS 


Page 

In the Land of the Dragon .... 3 

Two Little Chinese Sisters 15 

The Little Highbinder 27 

How Ah Chee found Santa Claus . . 39 

The Moon Rabbit 65 

How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip . . 93 

The Easter Dream of Mun Chee . . .109 

Ping Pong and Ping Yet 131 

The Little Almond Blossom . . . .153 

The Christmas of Gum Ching . . .163 

Ho Chin’s Fourth of July 173 

The Little Fisher-Maiden 189 

The Finding of Sing Ho 207 

The Slave-Girl’s Thanksgiving . . .233 








LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

A Little Almond Blossom Frontispiece 

“ Oh, what a dreadful monster ” 5 

“The Chinese children all marched to the 

music in a row '' 7 v 

“ Everybody giggled all the time, in their funny 

little Chinese way 9 ^ 

“ She brought forth from the flute the most 

wonderful sounds 17 

“ It was the old nurse, Suey ” 22^^ 

“ ‘ Where are you going, little one ? * ” . . . 50 

“ Little Priest ” 65 - 

“ She and one of her sisters were on the step 

in front of their home 67 

“ Suey Hip was very much dressed up . . 99 ^ 

“ She sometimes longed to get out, she and her 

two little brothers ” 109 ^ 

“There was a big bouquet for Ping Pong*' . 147 

“ Through the narrow streets” ^77 

“ Two of his little friends, with their queer little 

Chinese caps on ” 208 

“His own beautiful mo chun'" 227 


IN THE LAND OF THE DRAGON 


Little Almond 
Blossoms 


IN rHE LAND 
OF THE DRAGON 


C HUNG GOY ran as fast as 
his little sandals would per- 
mit, up the narrow flight of 
steps which led to the Chinese res- 
taurant, and out on the balcony, 
where a crowd of Chinamen were 
watching for the great Procession 
of the Dragon. His little legs were 
encased in pale green silk trousers 
tied at the ankles, and his lavender 
shorn (blouse) gleamed in the light 
of the many dragon lanterns which 
were swaying in the night breeze. 

3 


L,itth Almond Blossoms 
H is hair was in a long queue, and 
on his head he wore the little round 
black cap of the Chinese, with a 
button on top. 

Chung Goy was so afraid he would 
miss seeing the dragon. He had 
never seen it as yet, for he was not 
so very old, and now that the long- 
expected moment had come he fairly 
trembled with excitement. 

His ho chun (^father) was on this 
balcony, which was near their home, 
and he hurried to nestle up to him, 
as it was cold, and the wind was al- 
ways blowing in San Francisco. 

It seemed as if the procession 
would never come; he grew tired 
watching so many people pass, and 
perhaps the fumes of the opium his 
father was smoking got into his brain; 
but, at any rate, the first thing he 
4 


\ 



Ohy what a dreadful /nonster ! 






In the Land of the Dragon 
knew he saw a great squirming thing 
approaching him. 

It was spitting fire from its eyes 
and mouth, and at first he felt 
afraid. Oh, what a dreadful mon- 
ster ! it would surely devour him. 
He heard himself saying: “Velly bad 
snake — I no likee; go ’way! I 
’flaid.” And then he heard a voice 
like the muttering of thunder, and 
the voice came out of the dragon’s 
mouth, and it was saying in the 
Chinese language: Samen jai (little 
boy), I have come to take you to 
Dragon Land. Slip away from ho 
chun^ and fly with me.” 

“ Oh, no I ” gasped the trembling 
boy, « I velly much ’flaid the big 
dlagon eat me up.” And then the 
dragon spoke again, but this time 
his voice was as soft and sweet as 


5 


Little Almond Blossoms 
music, and the fire no longer came 
from his eyes and mouth. He had 
such a kind look on his face too, and 
spoke in such a persuasive tone, that 
little Chung Goy ceased to be afraid, 
and slipping from his father’s arms he 
ran down the narrow steps again, and 
out into the street, climbing up on 
the big dragon’s back. He saw lots 
of other Chinese boys he knew, doing 
the same thing. He held on tightly, 
for the dragon went in such a squirm- 
ing way that he was afraid he would 
fall off, and he held on to his little 
silk cap, too, as the dragon’s speed 
increased, for it was his best one, and 
he did not want to lose it. 

Oh, this was jolly! He had never 
thought he would ever ride on a 
dragon’s back. What a lot he woul-d 
have to tell his mo chun (^mother) 

6 



The Chinese children all marched to the music in a row 





In the L,and of the Dragon 
when he reached home. It was a 
good thing mo chun did not know it 
now, he thought, or she would be 
“ velly much ’flaid.” 

After squirming through all sorts 
of queer countries, the big dragon 
stopped so suddenly that they all fell 
off his back, and down his slippery 
sides. Chung Goy rubbed his eyes 
and looked around him. Oh, how 
funny! There were just thousands 
of dragons of all sizes, and this beau- 
tiful place was their home. They all 
had such kind faces, and spoke in 
such a gentle way, that no one could 
feel afraid. There were great groves 
of trees, all full of the tiny Chinese 
mandarin orange. Chung Goy just 
loved those “ollanges,” but he had 
never before picked them from 
a tree, as his ho chun had bought 

7 


Little Almond Blossoms 
them from the street-stands in China- 
town. There were trees of lichee 
(^nuts), and long tables just filled with 
Chinese candy, delicious preserved 
ginger, watermelon seed, and all 
those good things so dear to a boy’s 
heart. 

It was night, but the trees were so 
full of the great dragon lanterns that 
it made it almost as light as day, and 
there were no dark corners anywhere. 
There was a dragon orchestra under 
one of the trees, playing the loveliest 
Chinese music. The shrill piping of 
the flageolets and the beating of the 
“tom-toms” were indeed beautiful 
to the ears of Chung Goy and his 
friends. It looked too funny for any- 
thing to see dragons holding the dif- 
ferent instruments with their claws. 
The Chinese children all marched to 

8 



Everybody giggled all the timey in their fu?i?iy little Chinese way 








r.^3- 








In the hand of the Dragon 
the music in a row, holding each 
other by the queue. 

Chung Goy had never had so 
much fun in all his little life as he 
was having now. Just as he was be- 
ginning to feel hungry there appeared 
before his gaze a very long table, just 
filled with everything a child could 
possibly want, and all served by 
cunning little dragons. There were 
such dainty little China cups with- 
out handles, and in them the most 
delicious chah (^teaj. 

Everybody giggled all the time, in 
their funny little Chinese way, and 
no one told them to stop. 

While they were sitting at the 
table the dragons brought them each 
a big basket of fireworks. Now a 
Chinese child is even more fond of 
fireworks than an American child, 

9 


Ljittle Almond Blossoms 
and so they all kicked up their little 
sandals with delight, and after each 
one had been given a lighted Chinese 
punk, they began to pop them, and 
oh, what fun it was! There was a 
delightful noise, with so much pop- 
ping, and the odor of the punks was 
most pleasant to their little Chinese 
noses. It really seemed as if the 
more they popped, the more they 
had left in their baskets. 

Finally, the big King of the drag- 
ons said he must take them home 
now, or he would not be back in 
time for the parade, and it would 
never do to disappoint the people. 
So each one was allowed to keep his 
basket, and they squirmed away again, 
until at last they entered the narrow 
streets of Chinatown, with its rows 
of dragon lanterns, and its odor of 

lO 


In the hand of the Dragon 
incense everywhere. Once more 
Chung Goy climbed the narrow steps, 
and crept into the arms of ho chun^ 
who had not noticed his absence, and 
he arrived just in time, for just then 
there was a great noise of “ tom- 
toms,” and crowds shouting. 

The streets were aglare with a 
strange red light, and looking down 
he saw the familiar form of the King 
Dragon, which was spitting fire from 
its eyes and mouth; but this time 
little Chung Goy did not feel afraid, 
for he knew — he knew. 





rjVO LITTLE CHINESE SISTERS 


I 


rwo LITTLE 
CHINESE SISTERS 

O NE day during the Chinese 
New Year, when the sea 
breezes blew softly through 
the narrow, blossom-lined streets of 
Chinatown, and swayed the great red 
dragon lanterns to and fro, Poon 
Chew and her little sister, Poon Yet, 
decided that they would take a walk 
through the streets, and have a look 
at all the beautiful things displayed 
in the windows. Their mo chun had 
dressed them up in their very best 
silken robes, — robes she had made 
for this very week, — and they made 
a pretty picture as they started out 
under their gay umbrella. Their 

15 


Little Almond Blossoms 
blouses were of pink silk, and their 
trousers of pale lavender. They 
wore gay head-dresses, and were in- 
deed beautiful to look upon. They 
would never have started out alone 
if the little mo chun had not been 
so busy making the great New Year 
cake, which was to be served with 
tea to her guests of the New Year. 

“Let’s go see Sai Gee,” said Poon 
Chew. 

“All light,” replied the little sister. 

Sai Gee, a little-footed playmate 
of theirs, lived just a few doors from 
them, and they had no difficulty in 
finding her home. Sai Gee was also 
dressed up in her gayest attire, but 
her feet were too small to find much 
enjoyment in running around with 
the children whose feet were of the 
ordinary size. But she could enter- 

16 



She brought forth from the flute the most wonderful sounds 



f 


t i 


w 

k 


• 







i 


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Two Ljittle Chinese Sisters 
tain them, anyway, for Sai Gee could 
play the flute. 

It was really wonderful. She sat 
upon a stool, over which an em- 
broidered robe had been thrown, and 
played to them. Her hair was done 
in a coil back of her right ear, and 
her little brown face was sweet and 
wistful as she brought forth from the 
flute the most wonderful sounds. Sai 
Gee’s father was very wealthy, and so 
the little one had everything that 
money could buy. Poon Chew made 
up her mind right then that she 
would ask her father to buy her a 
flute. Then Sai Gee brought forth 
some tiny cakes, made of powdered 
nuts, and some tea, and preserved 
watermelon ; and for each of the 
little sisters a big slice of New Year’s 
cake. 


17 


Little Almond Blossoms 

« My ! but we have good time. 
I likee make New Yeah call, like 
mo chun — we go now; good-by,” 
said Poon Chew. 

“Let’s look in window,” the big 
sister said; and of course the little 
one, having perfect confidence in 
Poon Chew, gladly followed, the soft 
little hand clasped in that of the sis- 
ter. Oh, the wonderful things they 
saw! The streets looked like a gar- 
den, with the rows of almond blos- 
soms and China lilies, and on every 
balcony swung in rows the immense 
dragon lanterns. 

They stopped awhile — they 
thought it only a few minutes — to 
watch some boys playing a New 
Year’s game, and then passed on by 
the stores, where the smell of the 
good things made them very hungry. 


Two Tittle Chinese Sisters 

“ Oh, how nice the least pohk 
(roast pork) smell ! I velly hungly, 
— we go home pletty soon,” said the 
older sister. 

“Yes, we go home pletty soon,” 
echoed Poon Yet. 

The little feet were growing tired, 
for they had never before been on 
the streets alone, and they wanted to 
get all the pleasure they could out 
of it. How they did wish they had 
brought some money, as they looked 
longingly at the great heaps of can- 
died cocoanut and ginger on the 
street-stands. Their eyes must have 
said so, for just as they were gazing 
at the dainties with longing eyes 
a richly-dressed Chinaman came by, 
and the first thing they knew he was 
saying: “You likee candy, ne jaif' 
(little girl). 


19 


Little Almond Blossoms 

It startled them at first, but when 
they looked up and saw what a kind 
face the man had, they did not feel 
afraid, but replied : “Yes — we velly 
hungly — we no bling money; we 
catch ’em plenty money at home.” 

The man laughed good-naturedly, 
and having bought them a large 
package of candy, started on. After 
they had eaten some of it they no- 
ticed the growing darkness. Could 
it be possible that night was com- 
ing on ? They had not thought of 
that; it had seemed so bright when 
they started, and it did not seem 
as if they could have been gone 
long. 

Meanwhile, what of the little brown 
mother at home ? 

When she finished her cake she 
called her children. She had made 


20 


‘Two Tittle Chinese Sisters 
a little cake just for them, and she 
wanted them to come and eat it. 

“ Poon Chew ! Poon Yet ! ” she 
called ; but no sound came back 
through the silence. 

“Little one — ne jaiy come to mo 
chun!" No reply. 

With wildly beating heart she 
rushed through the tiny rooms and 
out to the narrow pavement. She 
hailed a passing policeman, and in 
faltering Chinese told him that her 
little ones were lost, described the 
pretty clothes they wore, and all the 
while her heart was wrung with a 
nameless fear. What would life be 
without the soft little arms about 
her neck ? — the patter of the little 
sandalled feet ? — the sound of the 
shrill little voices at play ? 

This policeman told others, and 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
they were all searching for the two 
children, who were out making New 
Year’s calls. 

And it grew darker. Poon Chew 
trembled, as she realized that they 
were lost. She did not know which 
way to turn. Some men were lighting 
the big dragon lanterns on the balcony 
opposite, so it was really night. 

“ Oh, little sister, we are lost I I 
forget ; I no ’member the way home. 
What will we do ? ” she moaned. 
She had no idea what direction her 
home was in, and her eyes were filled 
with tears ; but now through the 
tears she saw some one approaching. 
It was — oh, joy ! the old nurse Suey, 
leading the richly dressed little Sai 
Chong, brother of Sai Gee. 

She was greatly surprised when she 
saw the children so far from home. 



/ 


It was the old nurse y Suey 





T"wo Little Chinese Sisters 
and they clung to her neck, weeping 
and laughing by turns. “ Take us 
home — take us home;” they cried. 
They had walked so far and were 
so tired that she got a Chinaman 
who was standing by to take them 
all home in his wagon. When they 
arrived, they found the little mo 
chun in the greatest distress. She 
was very much astonished as she 
saw them all tumble out of the 
covered wagon, and they all cried 
and laughed, and never did the little 
mother receive so many kisses; and 
four little brown arms clasped her 
neck all at once, and the little sisters 
were so very sorry to have been so 
naughty that they said : 

“ Mo chun^ beautiful cherry blos- 
som — we neveh, neveh make New 
Yeah calls again without you.” 


23 



THE LITTLE HIGHBINDER 



THE 

LirrLE HIGHBINDER 

I T was the one desire of little 
Sing Lee to be a highbinder. 
It must be a fine thing, for his 
father was one, and so it must be 
good. It was true he did not have 
a very definite idea of just what 
it meant to be one, but he knew 
this : his father belonged to the 
Hip Sing Tongs, an order of high- 
binders in San Francisco, and they 
were men who kept their promises. 
At night as he lay on his hard bam- 
boo couch, with the fumes of opium 
thick around him, he could hear ho 
chun talking in a low tone to a crowd 
of men, who were all of the same 

27 


Little Almond Blossoms 

order of highbinders as his father. 
“There is Chong Sing,” they 
were saying ; “ he has told some 

of our secrets to a white devil, and 
he must die; the joss frowns upon 
him.” 

This sounded very discouraging 
for Chong Sing, and little Sing Lee 
felt sorry for a moment, for he re- 
membered that one day this same 
Chong Sing had spoken kindly, and 
had given him a three-cornered 
package of lichee (nuts) and candy. 
He could even yet taste the delicious 
strips of candied cocoanut, and the 
dainty citron. Chong Sing had said 
he would bring him some more an- 
other time, and now — he was to 
die. If he died, perhaps no one 
else would bring candy or speak 
kind word. 

28 


a 


The Liittle Highbinder 

Little Sing Lee lay trembling in his 
bed as they planned the murder of 
his friend. What could he do? He 
was only a little boy, and — he had 
thought to be a highbinder when he 
was a big man like ho chun ; and if 
he was going to be one, he must 
conquer all tenderness of heart, — 
and yet, this man had been kind to 
him, and it might be that he had 
little boys of his own at home. 

“If I was a highbinder,” he said 
to himself, “I no kill nice men who 
bling children candy ; I kill bad 
men.” 

Next day he confided his thoughts 
to mo chun^ but she replied : “No I 
no I my little boy. No use — Hip 
Sing Tongs heap big — heap stlong 
(strong). They no care if Chong 
Sing give lichee; they kill him, allee 

29 


Little Almond Blossoms 
samee.” But little Sing Lee did 
not forget. He still thought, how- 
ever, that it must be a fine thing to 
be a highbinder, if only one just 
killed the bad men — men who did 
not give candy to lonely little chil- 
dren and speak kind words to them. 
So that very day he went around 
through Chinatown and organized 
a society of highbinders among his 
boy friends. 

He succeeded in getting four other 
boys to join, and they all took their 
oaths very solemnly. Now that they 
were really highbinders they must 
begin to kill somebody. Not ever 
having killed anybody, they did not 
know how to go about it, or on 
whom to begin. 

Mo chun noticed the boys carrying 
on a great deal of private conver- 
se 


‘The Little Highbinder 
sation, and she wondered what it 
could be ; so that night, after Sing 
Lee had burned his punks before 
the god, and had eaten his bowl of 
rice with chopsticks, she said to 
him : “ What for you allee time 

whisper ? You no eat — you no 
sleep \ tell me ! what you think ? ” 
Mo chun was such a dear little 
brown mother, and he loved her so, 
that when she looked at him with 
her slanting velvet eyes, and asked 
him to tell her, he just had to, that 
was all. He was not afraid of her, 
for Chinese mothers do not punish 
their children, and anyway — the 
secret was too good to keep, so why 
not tell her ? She never laughed at 
him like ho chun. So he crept close 
up against the warmth of her silken 
blouse — he could feel her tender 


31 


hittle Almond Blossoms 
mother heart beating beneath it — 
and he gazed at the polished hair 
and the pretty mouth as he talked. 

« Mo chun — I likee be like big 
man — like ho chun. I get boys to- 
geddeh ; we be highbinders, allee 
samee ho chun. 

^^Ho chun velly fine man; he kill 
heap of people; I likee do that, but, 
mo chun^ my beautiful blossom, I no 
likee ho chun to kill Chong Sing; he 
heap good — he bling me candy.” 

“What you mean, little boy? How 
you sabe (^know^ ho chun kill Chong 
Sing? Speak! — tell me 1” 

“ Oh, mo chun of mine, I no sleep at 
night ; I no can help — I hear ho chun 
say Chong Sing must die. I velly 
solly; he heap good man — I likee.” 

Mo chun was sorry too, for she 
knew him to be a good man, but she 

32 


The Tittle Highbinder 
knew there was no use to say any- 
thing. If they had decided upon his 
death there was nothing to be said. 

The next day Sing Lee set forth 
with his little band of highbinders to 
find some one to kill. Mo chun had 
said: “You must not really kill 
them, you sabe, just pletend kill.” 

Suddenly, as they marched on, a 
bright thought struck little Sing Lee. 
“Suppose I tell Chong Sing? — he 
live near — I know the way, and — 
he was kind to me.” 

He then confided his secret to his 
trusty men, and they marched on, 
through the narrow streets, till they 
came to the home of the good Chong 
Sing — the man who was to be killed. 

It was dark and gloomy where 
Chong Sing lived, and his two little 
childreii, trudging homeward through 
' 33 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
the narrow alley-way, arrived at the 
door just before the little highbinders. 
Sing Lee could see their ho chun as 
he greeted them, and they clasped 
their little arms about his neck, 
while he gazed at them with love in 
his eyes — and yet — he must die. 

Sing Lee’s mind was made up. 
He marched boldly to the door, and 
stood under the big Chinese letters 
which meant happiness to all who 
should enter there, and he could 
even smell the incense ever kept 
burning for the god, — the god who 
had given no warning to Chong Sing. 
With a soft sound of sandalled feet 
the doomed man appeared at the 
door. His face was beaming with 
good nature. He carried his little 
girl in his arms, and by his side stood 
his son, a manly little fellow. 

3 + 


The Tittle Highbinder 

With his heart throbbing as if it 
would burst, Sing Lee advanced in 
front of his men, saying, “ I am Sing 
Lee! You were kind to me once; these 
are my men — highbinders — ” (at this 
Chong Sing smiled in a very amused 
way, but the smile was changed to 
something else when the boy went 
on) “I no forget you; I velly lonely 
— you bling me candy; you say good 
word to me, and now — I pay you 
back. 

“No one know I come to tell 
you; the Hip Sing Tongs they say 
you must die. They say you tell 
seclets to white devil : I no know, 
I no care, but you good man; I 
likee save you. I want you to go 
’way, acloss the water. You go 
quick! — I velly solly — good-by.” 

The little highbinder did not kill 

35 


Little Almond Blossoms 
any one that day; he was thinking 
of a pale, set face, and two little 
brown arms clasped about a father’s 
neck. Never mind! he would kill 
some one next week, or “to-mollow.” 
Some one who was bad — who did 
not bring candy. 

There was great surprise among 
the Hip Sing Tongs when their 
victim was not to be found. Such a 
thing had never happened before, and 
they could account for it in no way. 

Of course they did not think to 
ask the little mother or the embryo 
highbinder. And while they were 
wondering and searching, away over 
across the blue sea were the Chinese 
father and mother, and brown, happy 
children — safe. 


36 


HOW AH CHEE FOUND 
SANTA CLAUS 


\ 



HO IV AH CHEE 
FOUND SANTA CLAUS 

I T was Christmas Eve. In the 
big Chinatown of San Fran- 
cisco little Ah Chee and her 
brother Ah Gong were eagerly drink- 
ing in the words of the old Chinese 
story-teller as he sat on the streets 
and told stories for any one who 
cared to listen and to give him a few 
pennies. It was getting late, and 
the sea wind blew roughly through 
the narrow streets, and made the 
dear little Chinese noses so cold; 
but then Ah Chee did not mind, for 
the old man had been telling them 
the most wonderful tale, — something 
about Christmas — the ’Melican Clis- 


39 


Ljittle Almond Blossoms 
mas — and he had said something 
about it being a little Baby’s birth- 
day, and that almost everybody in 
the world celebrated it. She pon- 
dered over it, in her vague little 
Chinese way, and thought it very 
queer that they should make such 
an ado about just a baby. 

The old man did not understand 
it very well himself, but he remem- 
bered that when he used to be cook 
for an American family once, a long 
time ago, the children had hung 
up their stockings on this particular 
night, and had some kind of a tree 
with beautiful things on it. They 
called it a Christmas tree, he re- 
membered, and how pleased he had 
been when there were found to be 
some packages for him on that same 
tree. They had told him then that 

40 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
Santa Claus had put them there, 
and he could never forget the thrill 
of surprise and pleasure he felt at the 
thought that this mysterious Santa 
Claus, whoever he might be, should 
have remembered him when he had 
never even seen him. 

And now the story was finished, 
and the old man went on down the 
street, and entered a shop where he 
would smoke opium and forget all 
about Christmas. But little Ah 
Chee did not forget. She sat scrap- 
ing her little sandals against the pave- 
ment, thinking it all over. Her mo 
chun was upstairs in the poor little 
rooms, sewing by the dim light which 
struggled through the lattice, and 
wishing that she were not so poor, 
for she had to work very hard, and 
often they did not have enough to 

41 


Little Almond Blossoms 
eat. The rice was almost gone now, 
and there were only a few leaves of 
chah (tea) left. 

A Chinese mother loves her chil- 
dren very dearly, and always tries to 
gratify their every wishj so it made 
her feel badly to think she could 
not give them embroidered shoms 
(blouses), and sandals, instead of the 
plain dark ones they always had to 
wear. The children had had their 
rice early to-night, and had gone 
out - in the street to play “hawk 
catching young chickens,” they 
said. 

She did not know the story-teller 
had been there, but she would not 
have objected if she had known, for 
he was a kind old man, and if she 
could have spared the time from her 
sewing she also would have listened; 

42 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
for a Chinese woman is like a child 
in many things. She had heard some 
one say this was the American Christ- 
mas, but to her all days were alike, 
— just work, that was all. 

Meanwhile Ah Chee was filled 
with a curious longing to run away 
from the picturesque Chinatown, 
just for a little while, to see if 
she could not find out something 
more about this wonderful Santa 
Claus. She would give anything in 
the world to see him, only — she 
had nothing to give. All the trin- 
kets the poor little child owned were 
a mud pagoda and a bit of painted 
wood she called a doll. 

Once during the Chinese New 
Year her dear mo chun had taken 
them for a walk outside of China- 
town, and she had seen the wonder- 

43 


Little Almond Blossoms 
ful shop-windows of the Americans. 
How different they were from the 
Chinese ! She had also seen some 
beautiful things that her mother had 
said were dolls. She had never for- 
gotten it, and had even dreamed of 
holding one of these wonderful things 
in her arms. But it could only be a 
dream, — no such happiness was for 
her, — for it was all they could do 
to get enough rice to eat, without 
buying American dolls. 

« Ah Gong ! ” she cried, fired with 
a sudden and bold resolution, « Ah 
Gong ! you likee take a walk with 
sisteh ? ” 

Ah Gong was at that moment 
busily engaged in eating a dried her- 
ring, which the kind-hearted owner 
of the shop next door had given him ; 
but that fact did not in the least 


44 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
interfere with his desire to see new 
sights. His sparkling Chinese eyes 
fairly danced out of his head at the 
mere prospect. 

“Yes, I likee,” he replied, with his 
mouth full of herring. “ What foh 
you takee walk ? Where you go ? ” 

She took hold of the end of his 
queue, and pulling him toward her, 
whispered in his ear the magic words : 
“We go see Clismas ! we catch ’em 
Sanny Claw.” 

This announcement was almost too 
much for Ah Gong, and his little 
celestial brain could not take in so 
much happiness all at once, so he 
stared at her a moment until he had 
swallowed the bite of herring, and 
then gasped out : “ But Ah Gong 
’llaid Sanny Claw spit fieh (fire) on 
usj allee samee heap big dlagon.” 

45 


hit tie Almond Blossoms 
Ah Chee had to giggle at this, 
with her ever-ready Chinese giggle, 
but putting her long sateen sleeve 
round him in a protecting manner 
she answered him in the kindest 
tone: “Oh, no ! ’Melican Sanny Claw 
heap good man — allee samee joss; 
we go find him ; come along ! ” 

So they started in the growing 
darkness, with the sweet faith of 
a child in their hearts. They 
knew not where to go, nor which 
way to turn, but only had the one 
thought — just to find the ’Meli- 
can Clismas. When they had disap- 
peared, the shopkeeper believed they 
had gone home for the night, and 
gave them no more thought ; the 
tired mother upstairs supposed that 
they were in the shop, as they often 
went in there and played until late, 
46 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
because it was bright, and the man 
was kind to them. 

They knew they could not find 
Santa Claus in Chinatown, so the 
first thing to do was to get out of 
the Chinese section, and into one 
of the great thoroughfares of the city. 
On they went, past the joss house, 
where they had once been with their 
mother to burn pretty candles before 
the joss, and they looked up with 
childish admiration at the big round 
lanterns which hung on the balcony, 
and tried to read the Chinese letters 
at the door. Sometime, perhaps 
when the moon festival came, or the 
Chinese New Year, it might be that 
mo chun would take them again, if 
she had money enough to buy any 
more pretty candles. The good joss 
liked pretty candles. 


47 


Little Almond Blossoms 
There were many lovely things to 
be seen in Chinatown, but to-night 
they were going somewhere else. It 
did not occur to them that they 
might get lost, or that their dear 
mother might be uneasy. They were 
too much excited over what the story- 
teller had told them to worry over 
anything, so they toddled on, their 
hearts full of expectation. They 
had no idea what Christmas would 
be like when they should find it, or 
whether it would be alive, but they 
could wait. How very queer it 
seemed when they had left the nar- 
row crooked streets of Chinatown, 
with its smell of incense and its bal- 
conies and lanterns, and found them- 
selves on a great wide street full of 
people, so full of people that the 
heart of the motherly little Ah Chee 
48 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
almost failed her, and she clasped her 
arm protectingly around the body of 
her fat baby brother, and whispered 
words of encouragement in his little 
brown ear. 

Many people, in the hurry of their 
Christmas shopping, gave a passing 
thought of wonder that the two little 
Chinese children should be in the 
dense crowd alone, but thought per- 
haps their parents were following 
them ; and so, with a smile at the 
dimpled tea-rose face and sparkling 
eyes of the Chinese maiden they 
passed on, to the brightness and 
good cheer of their own comfortable 
homes. There were so many street 
cars, with bells clanging, carriages 
dashing past, and so much noise and 
confusion that they were both fright- 
ened. Even the brave little heart 


49 


laittle Almond Blossoms 
of Ah Chee beat violently under the 
padded warmth of her dark blue 
blouse, and for a moment she almost 
feared they would not find Santa 
Claus. But just then a voice said 
something, and a big policeman picked 
her up, and smiled at her, saying : 
“ Where are you going, little one ? 
Where is mamma ? ” 

The timid little voice of Ah Chee 
replied, “ Mo chun, she at home ; can 
you tell me,” she eagerly questioned, 
« where Sanny Claw is ? ” 

« Why, yes, to be sure ; he is in 
there.” 

In there, — could it be possible 
they were so near the wonderful 
being and had not known it ? 

They saw a very large store, with 
great crowds of people, big and little, 
jostling each other in their efforts to 

50 



* ‘ Where are you going, little one ? ’ ’ 





How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
get in. So all these people were 
hunting Santa Claus. Ah Chee in 
her childish eagerness slipped, and 
would have fallen, had she not been 
caught in some one’s arms. The arms 
belonged to a richly dressed lady, 
who looked down with indifference 
at the pathetic picture of the two 
little children, and was about to draw 
her skirts aside and pass on, when 
the little Christ-child must have put 
a thought into her worldly heart, 
for she turned and looked again into 
the wistful little faces. 

They must have seen some sym- 
pathy in her face, for Ah Chee said 
hesitatingly, « Oh, if you please, we 
likee see Sanny Claw ; could you 
show us ? ” 

For a moment she hesitated. What 
would her aristocratic friends think 

51 


hit tie Almond Blossoms 
if they saw her taking two dirty Chi- 
nese children into the elegant shop ? 

« Why did n’t your father bring 
you ? ” she said. 

« My fatheh — he die ; we no got 
fatheh.” 

Something in the pleading little 
face, and the quiver in the little red 
mouths, and the despair in the great 
oblique eyes must have touched the 
woman’s heart beneath all its worldly 
coating. With sudden decision she 
grasped the two little trembling hands, 
and throwing all her old false pride 
to the Christmas winds, stepped boldly 
into the shop, where all was elegance 
and warmth and light and beauty. 

To her it was an old story. She 
had long since lost the spirit of Christ- 
mas, and the old legend of Santa 
Claus brought no ecstasy to her, for 

52 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
there were no children at her home 
to hang up their stockings. The 
little Chinese children were all eyes 
now, and forgot their poverty and 
the bleak darkness of their home as 
they looked for the first time at all 
this sparkling beauty. At last they 
found him — the “ ’Melican Sanny 
Claw ! ” To the lady it was nothing, 
— such an old, old story, — but to 
the two little Chinese children it was 
the perfect and blissful realization of 
a dream, the one beautiful event in 
two little barren lives. And now — 
they actually stood face to face with 
Santa Claus. Little Ah Gong was 
glad to see that he was not spitting 
fire, like the Chinese dragon, and 
felt quite reassured. 

Santa was standing by a sparkling 
tree all covered with pretty candles, 

53 


Little Almond Blossoms 
such as they had burned for the joss, 
and on top of the tree was a great 
shining star. 

« What is that ? ” said Ah Gong, 
pointing with his chubby forefinger 
to the star. 

« That ? It is the star of Bethle- 
hem,” said the pretty lady, with a 
queer catch in her voice, while for the 
first time in her life she realized a 
little of the true meaning of the star. 

They did not understand, and clung 
closer to each other as they neared 
the wonderful Santa Claus. He must 
have come from a very cold country, 
for he was dressed all in fur, from 
head to foot, and had rosy cheeks 
and long white whiskers. 

“ See,” whispered the little girl 
to her brother, “it is the heap good 
’Melican Santa ; do you see him ? ” 
54 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
“Yes — yes — I see him; I no 
’flaid now,” he said, edging closer to 
him. 

The beautiful lady was whispering 
to Santa Claus — actually whispering. 
What a brave lady she must be, and 
they wondered vaguely what she 
could have to say to him. And, 
wonder of wonders ! Santa came 
right up to them, and putting out 
his big warm hand, clasped the trem- 
bling little cold hands of the two 
children, and said : “ What do you 
want me to bring you ? ” 

Was there ever anything so won- 
derful ? That he should notice them, 
and speak to them ? Their eyes al- 
most danced out of their heads at 
this unexpected question. It had 
never occurred to their innocent lit- 
tle hearts that he would bring them 

55 


Liittle Almond Blossoms 
anything, because they were only 
Chinese, and the Chinese did not 
believe in Santa Claus ; they only 
believed in the Moon Rabbit. 

As he spoke, visions of wonderful 
things flitted through their minds, — 
things they dared not name. The 
lady said to Ah Chee : « Tell him, 
dear ; he would like to give you 
something.” 

Before the child thought, she had 
spoken the words: “ Could you — oh, 
could you — bling me — a — doll ? ” 

“ A doll ? Why, yes ; of course 
you shall have a doll,” he said, as 
the lady looked at him in a meaning 
way. And then all the boy in little 
Ah Gong’s repressed nature broke 
forth, and he hurriedly gasped : “ A 
knife — I likee knife.” 

The ladj smiled at , Santa again, 

56 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
and he said: “And what else, my 
little man ? ” 

“ I likee led (red) wagon — ” 

“ No — no — ” whispered the timid 
sister, “ that too muchee — Santa no 
likee give so muchee.” 

Some more mysterious whispering 
went on, and Santa produced from 
his fur pocket a little book and pen- 
cil, and wrote down a great many 
things. Ah Chee did not know what 
he could be writing — perhaps a let- 
ter to his wife at the North Pole, but 
she did not care ; she only knew she 
was going to get what she had longed 
for all her little lonely life, — a doll, 
— and her motherly heart warmed 
and thrilled at the happy thought. 

“ And what would your mamma 
like ? ” he was saying now. 

“ Oh, — my mo chun ; let me see, 

57 


Ljittle Almond Blossoms 

— I think she likee wahm (^warm) 
shorn (blouse) and — that ’s all light ; 
you must not give too muchee ; you 
so good — you so good,” she sobbed. 

Her little starved soul was run- 
ning over with the joy of Christmas 

— the new joy, which she had never 
before tasted. 

« You shall not be forgotten, neither 
shall your mother. Good-by, and 
merry Christmas!” he said; and 
then, after showing the excited chil- 
dren all the beautiful toys in the 
shop, the lady went out with them 
once more into the crowded streets. 

The air was full of Christmas 
cheer, and every one was smiling 
and happy, as they hurried along 
with their arms full of mysterious 
packages and called out Christmas 
greetings to each other. 

58 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 

« Do you know where you live, 
children ? ” the lady now said. 

Fortunately Ah Chee remembered 
the number and place of their home, 
so the lady put them into a car- 
riage and seated herself beside them. 
They waited in the carriage awhile, 
till a man came out of the shop 
and placed many bundles of various 
shapes and sizes in with them. It 
was so dark they could not see them, 
but at last, after rattling over the 
cobblestones for a time, they saw that 
they had entered Chinatown, and 
once again the odor of the incense 
greeted them. 

Soon the carriage stopped right in 
front of their door, and they could 
see the pale face of mo chun peeping 
from the lattice. 

The lady told the driver to wait, 

59 


hitth Almond Blossoms 
while she went with the children 
up the dark stairway. Mo chun was 
never so surprised in her life as she 
was when the excited children rushed 
in, pulling the lady after them. She 
had begun to be frightened, and was 
just going down to the shop to see 
what was the matter, when they 
arrived, breathless and happy. She 
was very much embarrassed to have 
the rich and beautiful lady come 
into her poor little home, but al- 
most as much excited and pleased 
over the gifts as the children, and 
to see the purse of gold that Santa 
had brought her. She had not 
dreamed there was such kindness in 
the whole big world, or such plenty 
and happiness. 

It was enough to cure any amount 
of heartaches to note the rapture in 

6o 


How Ah Chee found Santa Claus 
the eyes of Ah Chee as she hugged 
the wonderful doll to her motherly 
little heart, and to see the boyish de- 
light with which Ah Gong displayed 
his knife and red wagon. There 
were many other gifts, yet they had 
never even thought there were such 
things in the world. Mo chun did 
not know how to thank the kind 
lady, who had, with one gift from 
her jewelled hands, lifted her and 
her children from poverty to com- 
fort. She could only make her a 
cup of delicious Chinese tea, and 
thank her in her pretty little Chinese 
way; but in her heart she thanked 
her, and the beautiful lady under- 
stood, and for the first time in her 
life realized the true meaning of 
Christmas. 


THE MOON RABBIT 


1 * 











4 



f 



Little Priest 






T"HE MOON RABBIT 


I T was the eve of the Moon 
Festival. The homes and the 
people of Chinatown were gay 
within and gay without, and the 
incense-laden air was full of the* 
holiday spirit. The Moon Festival 
with the Chinese is something like 
the American Christmas, only it lasts 
longer, extending into their New 
Year. 

Kon Ying had not been very happy 
in her little life, for she had always 
been made to feel that she was one 
too many in the home. She had 
three sisters older than herself, and 
the Chinese do not like so many 
daughters, — they would rather have 
* 65 


Little Almond Blossoms 
sons; so when she arrived in the 
small home, it was decided to call 
her Kon Ying, which means “enough 
hawks.” After her had come a 
baby brother, who was petted and 
spoiled in every way possible, be- 
cause he was a boy. As he was the 
only son, the parents soon resorted 
to a queer Chinese method. They 
shaved his head and called him “ little 
priest,” allowing him to be adopted 
by another family. This was done 
to deceive the bad spirits, and make 
them think they cared no more for 
their child than for a despised priest, 
and had thought so little of him 
that they had even allowed another 
family to adopt him. 

Little Kon Ying had been left 
to herself a great deal, and so had 
thought of many things. Perhaps 

66 



She and one of her sisters were on the step in front of their home 





The Moon Rabbit 

she had thought more of the Moon 
Rabbit than anything else, and won- 
dered in her childish way why it had 
never remembered her. She and one 
of her sisters were on the step in 
front of their home talking about it, 
when she saw her brother across the 
street, in front of the joss house. 
He was richly dressed, and pretended 
he did not know her. 

The streets were beautiful to- 
night, so, after much persuasion, mo 
chun had promised to take the chil- 
dren to see the shop windows. Soon 
the mother appeared at the door, 
where in a little bowl punks were 
always kept burning for the god, 
and in her high-pitched Chinese voice 
told the children she was ready. Kon 
Ying was happy for once. She was 
happy to-night, because she was 

67 


Little Almond Blossoms 
strong and young, and the Chinese 
world was beautiful. And, some- 
way, she felt that the rabbit would 
really remember her to-night. 

On they went, one after another, 
in true Chinese fashion, but never 
losing sight of the polished hair of 
mo chun in front of them. 

How gay it all was, and how 
bright ! The great irregular rows of 
big round lanterns looked like a lot 
of moons, and surely the rabbit’s own 
moon could not be more beautiful. 
They could scarcely tear themselves 
away from the bakeshop windows, 
which were full of cakes of all 
kinds. Some were shaped like the 
moon, and some were made into tall 
Chinese pagodas, a fish, a horse, or 
something of the kind. Some had 
on them the picture of the white 
68 


T'he Moon Rabbit 

rabbit, who is always pounding out 
rice in the moon. On others were 
painted beautiful gods and goddesses. 
Mo chun was telling them that when 
good little Chinese children were all 
asleep the mysterious rabbit would 
come to the shops and purchase the 
pretty things, to leave in the homes 
of the children. 

Kon Ying was thinking as she 
pressed her cunning little nose up 
against the cold glass : « I likee know 
if I been good enough this time. I 
help mo chun — I play (pray) to joss 
heap plenty time; maybe the moon 
labbit come — maybe, I no sabe ” 
(understand). She only knew that 
she had done her best, always ; but 
perhaps the wonderful rabbit would 
not think so. Never mind ! she 
would pray once more to the ugly 

69 


Little Almond Blossoms 
little old god at home, before she 
went to sleep. 

Soon they came to the toy shops. 
She felt as if she could stay for- 
ever, for there were toys of all 
kinds, and no one would ever know 
how good they seemed to a poor 
little Chinese girl who had never had 
any toys. The only one she had 
ever possessed was an old broken doll 
she had once found upon a trash 
heap, but she had treasured it as no 
doll was ever before treasured, and 
had given it all the pent-up love in 
her little starved heart. She had 
even named it “ Kin Leen ” (golden 
lily), and pretended that it was a 
fine aristocratic lady, with « little 
feet.” She had bound its feet with 
strips of cloth, and it was to this 
doll that she had gone with all her 

70 


‘The Moon Rabbit 

troubles; but no one knew this. 
If her proud brother had known he 
would have teased her unmercifully. 

There were so many lovely pa- 
godas in the window, and some of 
them were several feet high. She 
would like one of these, but knew 
she might as well long for the moon. 
There was something in the win- 
dow which she would rather have 
than a pagoda or anything else, 
and she longed for it so intensely 
that a real prayer must have gone 
out from her little innocent heart. 
It was a doll! — a Chinese doll, with 
big slanting eyes, like Kon Ying’s 
own, and the most gorgeous dress of 
flowered silk. 

Suddenly it dawned upon her what 
she would do when she got home. 
Instead of praying to the god on the 

71 


hittk Almond Blossoms 
shelf she would pray to the moon 
rabbit, and beg and beg of it to 
bring her a doll. If she could only 
have one of those gorgeous creatures, 
with the tuft of black hair on its 
head, and the wobbly feet and arms, 
and painted cheeks and lips, she 
would surely never ask for anything 
else. There were other dolls in 
plenty, but none so beautiful. 
They were only bits of wood, with 
eyes, nose, and mouth painted on 
them. If she had not seen the 
big one she might have cared for 
those, but now — she would never 
care for them ; she had seen the 
queen. 

She gasped out, in her shrill child- 
ish voice : “ Oh, mo chun I Why — 
why — won’t the moon labbit bling 
me doll ? ” 


72 


The Moon Rabbit 

Before the mother could reply, a 
kind hand was laid upon the polished 
head of the little girl, and a man’s 
kind voice said : “ The moon labbit 
will bling you doll, and all the little 
sistehs too.” 

Looking up, she saw that the voice 
came from the lips of a notori- 
ous highbinder — a friend of her 
father’s. 

The man had been to their home 
many times. She had liked him, 
for he always had a kind word for 
children, and last New Year he had 
even brought them some cunning 
little mandarin oranges, and a pack- 
age of Chinese candy. He was 
said to be a very bad man, but he 
loved children. Speaking a few 
words of holiday greeting, he passed 
on into the shop, while Kon Ying 

73 


Little Almond Blossoms 
and her sisters still gazed at the con- 
tents of the windows. 

The big doll seemed to be saying: 
“ I am yours, Kon Ying ! — take 
me ! ” while it held out its wobbly 
arms in entreaty. Its painted lips 
seemed as if they might be forming 
pretty Chinese words of good wishes 
for the Moon Festival. 

Kon Ying’s little celestial heart 
longed for it with a terrible longing, 
but the glass was between them, and 
so — her heart could only ache in 
silence. It could not happen, any- 
way. When did anything nice ever 
happen to her ? She had always 
been in the way, and there were 
no toys to spare for her — little 
“ Enough Hawks.” 

She was so absorbed in gazing at 
the doll that she did not see the 


74 


The Moon Rabbit 

highbinder, away back in the shop. 
Her nose was pressed against the 
glass, and her dirty little fingers had 
left ten marks, but she did not 
know; she would not have cared if 
she had known. Suddenly, as she 
gazed, something wonderful hap- 
pened. A big blue arm reached 
into the window from the shop, and 
slim fingers with long Chinese nails 
closed upon the doll, lifting it out 
of the window, to disappear from the 
gaze of the enraptured children. It 
seemed to blink its slanting eyes in 
farewell as it departed. 

The pale yellow ivory face of little 
Kon Ying appeared to grow even 
more pale as she screamed out, in 
that little nasal voice of hers : « She 
gone — the moon labbit no can get 
her now to bling to me. Heap bad 

75 


'Little Almond Blossoms 
spirit catch ’em doll : I so solly — I 
so solly.” 

It seemed to her that when the 
doll had gone from her sight it had 
taken with it the very heart out of 
her body, and she did not care to 
linger now, so they passed on, to 
other sights and sounds. 

On a flower-laden balcony some 
one was twanging on a sam yun 
(banjo), but even music had no 
charm for her now, because — the 
DOLL was gone. She would never 
see it again ; the bad spirits had taken 
it. Perhaps it was because she had 
neglected to pray to the god lately. 
She had even dared, when no one 
was looking, to make a horrible face 
at him, and tell him she hated him. 
She did this because her little heart 
was so heavy; no one seemed to 

76 


"The Moon Rabbit 

care for her, and the god never made 
anything nice happen to her, nor 
paid any attention to her little 
prayers. Never mind ! she would 
pray to the moon rabbit after this; 
perhaps it would hear her prayer. 
After she had decided upon this 
course she was anxious to get back 
to her home. The children were all 
getting tired now, and their wooden 
sandals dragged heavily upon the 
narrow pavements. 

“We go home now,” said mo chun; 
“ Maybe moon labbit come to-night.” 

At last they reached their home, 
and the tired children ascended the 
stairway. Kon Ying set to work to 
offer her sacrifices, as she was tired 
and wanted to go to bed. She had 
nothing to offer the moon rabbit 
except her old broken doll; so she 

77 


L.ittle Almond Blossoms 
placed it on a table and burned her 
incense sticks, and everybody thought 
she was praying to the god. But she 
was not; she knew, — and the god 
knew. At last she laid her tired head 
on the hard couch. 

It seemed to her she had only 
been there a minute, when there 
came a great glare of light and the 
sound of Chinese flutes. The lattice 
window opened, and in marched a 
troop of tiny Chinamen, dressed in 
purple and gold. Each one carried a 
stick of lighted incense for a torch, 
making the room as bright as day. 

They marched right up to where 
Kon Ying lay, and the most richly 
dressed one said : « Kon Ying, our 
queen has prepared a banquet for 
you ; will your highness please to 
accept the invitation ? ” 

78 


T^he Moon Rabbit 

Kon Ying was frightened at first, 
but something within her seemed to 
speak the words : “ I shall be pleased 
to obey the commands of your 
queen;” and she made a curtsey to 
the royal messenger. 

“ Be prepared to go when the time 
comes ! ” he said, and vanished with 
his company. 

By and by there was another glare 
of lights, and the sound of music. 
The lattice opened again, and there 
flitted in a crowd of the dearest little 
Chinese ladies, all clad in pink silk 
blouses, with lavender trousers, and 
pretty little golden sandals. They 
had so many diamonds in their hair 
and ears that it almost put out little 
Kon Ying’s eyes. They each carried 
a tiny Chinese lantern, which shed a 
soft light. 


79 


Little Almond Blossoms 

The most beautiful one now ap- 
proached Kon Ying and said : “ The 
queen has sent you a royal robe ; 
please put it on, and we will hasten 
to the moon.” 

Again the little girl gasped out : 
“Your highness’ commands shall be 
obeyed; ” and slipping from her couch 
she stood shivering upon the floor, 
while the moon-maidens arrayed 
her in a robe of palest lavender. 

“ Our queen heard your prayer, 
and has sent us to carry you to her 
kingdom,” they said ; and spreading 
out the wide Chinese sleeves of her 
gown until they looked just like 
wings, they told her to come, and 
away through the window she flew 
with them. 

She felt as light as a feather, and 
could not resist the pleasure of mak- 

8o 


T'he Moon Rabbit 

ing one real ugly face at the god as 
she passed. There stood on the 
street in front of the house a row 
of the dearest little sedan chairs, all 
glittering with gold, and carried by 
huge white rabbits. Before she could 
say a word they had opened the 
door for her, and placing her inside, 
flew away, — away from the squatty 
little god and the smell of incense, 
away from the great shining lanterns 
of the dragon, and the narrow, crooked 
streets, and into air that was so pure 
it seemed like a delicious nectar. 

Kon Ying leaned from the win- 
dow of her sedan chair and gazed at 
all the wondrous beauty of the sky. 
As they passed through the milky 
way some tiny star-fairies handed 
her a jewelled glass of the richest 
milk. She was very glad, for it 


L,ittk Almond Blossoms 
seemed a long time since her supper 
of rice and tea. She was far away 
from the lights of the city now, and 
surrounded by the dazzling radi- 
ance of the stars. One very large 
star seemed to be the queen, and all 
the little stars bowed down before 
it, chanting the sweetest melody. 

They were getting nearer and 
nearer the moon now, and, oh, how 
very large it was! To Kon Ying it 
had always seemed no larger than a 
small Chinese lantern, but now, as she 
came nearer, it seemed greater than 
the whole world. Soon she could 
see it no more, and the white rabbits 
told her that they were already in the 
moon. It was the most beautiful 
country. The velvet grass was cov- 
ered with the sacred almond blossom 
petals, and their perfume was sweeter 

82 


"The Moon Rabbit 

far than any incense. They passed 
through a long avenue of pure white 
chrysanthemums, which showered 
their petals upon them like snow. 
At the end of this avenue the chairs 
were stopped, and cunning little white- 
rabbit pages assisted them gently to 
the ground. A tender light flooded 
the place, and when Kon Ying raised 
her eyes she saw before her a throne, 
draped with the flags of the Imperial 
Court of China, — yellow silk, with 
blue dragons embroidered upon 
them, — and on the throne sat the 
queen, — the good moon rabbit who 
had heard her prayer. 

This queen was busily engaged in 
pounding rice, pounding it into a 
powder, and then sending it down 
to earth, to be eaten during the 
Moon Festival and the China New 

83 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
Year. She wore a pink gauze dress 
all covered with glittering spangles, 
and as Kon Ying approached the 
queen was singing : 

“ The small-footed girl with the sweet little 
smile. 

She loves to eat sugar and sweets all the 
while ; 

Her money ’s all gone, and because she can’t 
buy. 

She holds her small feet while she sits down 
to cry.” 

It sounded very pretty, as the 
queen had quite a sweet voice, and 
Kon Ying soon found herself singing 
it with all the others. The queen 
extended one soft white paw in greet- 
ing, but kept on pounding rice with 
the other. 

All the dear little Chinese ladies 
and men now seated themselves 
84 


T^he Moon Rabbit 

around the throne. The white- 
rabbit pages handed each one a dif- 
ferent musical instrument, and there 
burst forth the loveliest music that 
Kon Ying had ever heard. She 
found that she could play quite 
as well as any of them, which was 
a great surprise to her, as she had 
never before even touched a musical 
instrument. 

After the music the queen ordered 
refreshments served, and they entered 
a bower of almond blossoms and 
China lilies, seating themselves at a 
long table, where they were served 
by a lot of tiny white-rabbit pages. 
They ate with ivory chopsticks set 
with diamonds. The queen sat at 
the head of the table, and could hold 
the chopsticks in her paws quite as 
well as any one. What a feast that 

85 


Little Almond Blossoms 

was ! Yet plenty of funny things 
happened, even if it was a royal com- 
pany. The queen forgot herself, and 
stuck her nose right into a bowl of 
hot rice, at which there was a general 
giggle. A page quickly brought a 
finger-bowl and sponged the burnt 
nose, so it was all right. 

There were all sorts of good Chi- 
nese things to eat, — delicious chah 
(tea) in little handleless bowls, all 
kinds of pretty moon-cakes, little 
biscuit made of almond meal; water- 
melon seed, and many other things. 
When the feast was ended the queen 
said that each of them could make 
one wish, and it would be gratified. 
Kon Ying did not have to hesitate 
long over her wish. 

She knew what she wanted more 
than anything in the world, and she 
86 


The Moon Rabbit 

remembered that she had prayed to 
the rabbit, so perhaps — perhaps — 
“ Oh, dear queen ! ” she said at last in 
her piping little voice, « I be so good 
if only — if only — I could have — a 
doll, like the one in the shop win- 
dow ; oh, if I could — if I could.” 

Her eyes were full of tears as she 
finished, for it meant so much to 
her. The good moon rabbit re- 
plied : “You shall have your wish, 
little one, for you are a good child.” 

Kon Ying now bade farewell to 
the queen and all the dear little 
Chinese people, and jumping into 
the sedan chair was soon whirling 
away once more, and in a short while 
found herself entering the window 
of her own home, and placing her 
tired body on the bed. When she 
awoke the next morning she re- 

87 


L.itth Almond Blossoms 
membered the queen’s promise, and 
— what was that on her bed, close 
beside her ? A queer looking pack- 
age, and on it, written in Chinese 
letters, « For good little Kon Ying, 
from the moon labbit.” Hastily 
tearing open the packet she saw 
disclosed — the DOLL! She fan- 
cied the god frowned when he 
saw it. 

That night, when the narrow Chi- 
nese streets were gay with the many 
lanterns, and sweet with the fragrant 
almond blossom and lily, and the 
happy crowds were thronging the 
streets, the old highbinder passed 
the door. He smiled as he saw 
little Kon Ying seated in the door- 
way, holding the DOLL in her arms, 
and with rapture unspeakable in her 
childish eyes. 

88 


The Moon Rabbit 

« Where you catch ’em ? ” he in- 
quired in a jovial tone. 

“ Oh, I so happy,” she said. “ I 
went to the moon last night, and 
the moon labbit did bling me the 
DOLL.” 

And the highbinder smiled. 


89 



HOW SANTA CLAUS CAME 
TO SUET HIP 




HOW SANTA CLAUS 
CAME TO SUET HIP 


S UEY HIP was a little Chinese 
girl. She did not have a 
bright, cheerful home, but 
lived in a cellar, with steps going 
down from the street. It was dark 
and smoky down there, but of course 
it did not seem so bad to Suey Hip 
as it would to those who have always 
had a nice home, because she had 
never known anything else. 

Sometimes the children of a wealthy 
Chinese merchant would toddle by 
in their richly embroidered robes, 
and their feet were so small they 
could hardly walk. Suey Hip would 
sit on the top of the steps, and when 

93 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
she wished, play on the pavement in 
front of her home. And, oh, how 
she did long for some of those pretty 
garments ! But her mo chun worked 
very hard to get what she had by 
sewing for the Chinese stores, and 
there was no way to get anything 
more. 

Now one day when Suey Hip sat 
on the step sunning herself, and look- 
ing with longing eyes at the people 
as they passed, there came a little 
American girl, walking with her papa 
through the streets. Suey Hip was 
very bashful, and hung her head, and 
scraped her little sandals on the pave- 
ment as they passed before her. 

« Hello, little one,” said the man, 
in such a kind voice that Suey 
Hip looked up, and as she did so, 
caught sight of something in the 
94 


How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 
little Dorothy’s arms that put her 
little motherly heart all in a glow) 
and she no longer felt afraid. What 
was it she saw ? Why, just the love- 
liest big doll, with eyes that opened 
and shut, and it was dressed all in 
pink silk. Oh, the wonder and de- 
light that sparkled in the dark eyes 
as she gazed. It seemed too beauti- 
ful to be anything but a dream, and 
she cried as she looked into the sweet 
face of little Dorothy : “ Oh, what is 
it ? Where you catch ’em ? ” 

Dorothy laughed as she replied : 
« Why, this is my dollie ; Santa Claus 
brought it to me last Christmas.” 

“ Sanny Claw ? Who Sanny 
Claw ? — what ’s Clismas ? ” eagerly 
inquired the child. 

« Don’t you know what Christmas 
is ? ” said Dorothy. « Why, Christ- 

95 


Little Almond Blossoms 
mas is the loveliest time of all the 
year. It is then that we hang up 
our stockings, and in the night while 
we are asleep Santa Claus comes 
down the chimney, and fills our 
stockings with the loveliest things — 
dolls and toys and candy, and, oh 
— just everything.” 

All this time Dorothy’s papa stood 
listening in amused silence, as he 
thought it best to let the children 
carry on their conversation in their 
own way. 

“ I wish I was you,” said Suey 
Hip. “ Sanny Claw no come here ; 
we no have Clismas ; you think he 
ever come — bling me doll ? ” 

Just then Dorothy’s papa spoke 
and said : « I tell you what to do. 
You get your mamma to write a 
note in Chinese to Santa, and we 
96 


How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 
will come to-morrow and get the 
note and I will see that Santa Claus 
gets it. It is now just one month 
until Christmas, and who knows 
what may happen in that time ? ” 

“ You come again to-mollow ? ” 
eagerly inquired the child, and Dor- 
othy said, “Yes — yes, we will, won’t 
we, papa ? ” 

“Yes, dear, we will come again 
to-morrow.” 

When they had passed out of sight 
along the narrow streets, Suey Hip 
toddled down the dark steps into the 
cellar she called home, and going to 
her mother, who sat sewing by a 
tiny latticed window, she exclaimed : 
“ Oh, mo chun ! little ’Melican girl 
she say Sanny Claw come evvy 
yeah — bling doll — bling candy, 
toy, evvything. She say you lite 

7 97 


Little Almond Blossoms 
note to Sanny Claw; tell him come 
bling me doll Clismas.” 

After a great deal of explanation 
she made her little brown mother 
understand, and although she herself 
could not really believe that anything 
so nice could happen to her child, 
yet she had a mother’s tender heart, 
and was willing to do all the child 
asked of her. So she left her work, 
and went to a little table where 
there were some odd-looking writ- 
ing materials, Suey Hip watching 
her eagerly all the while, and tak- 
ing up a slender brush-stick, dipped 
it in an ink-like mixture, and began 
to make queer Chinese letters up 
and down the long slip of red 
paper. After much effort it was 
finished, and given to Suey Hip. 
She placed it carefully in a little 

98 



Suey Hip was very much dressed up 








How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 
vase, and went out again to play on 
the streets. 

She was so excited that night that 
she could hardly eat her supper of 
rice and tea and little sweetened 
cakes. She was almost too much 
excited to burn her incense before 
the little god in the corner, but she 
managed to get through with it, and 
was then put to bed. Next day at 
the same hour Suey Hip’s face had 
been scrubbed until it fairly shone, 
and her thick black hair was pasted 
down and braided into a long queue. 
She wore her best trousers and blouse 
of light blue silk, and little red san- 
dals. - Suey Hip was very much 
dressed up. 

The shy little mother, who had 
also come out on the pavement to 
watch for the Americans, put her 

99 


Lei u 


Little Almond Blossoms 
fan up to hide her face when she saw 
them coming, and quietly as a mouse 
slipped down the steps again. Suey 
Hip eagerly handed them the note 
which was to mean so much to her. 
Dorothy’s mama had come with 
them this time, and when she caught 
a glimpse of the timid little Chinese 
mother peeping eagerly up at them, 
she, with her kind woman’s heart, 
stepped down into the dark cellar, 
and stretched out both her white 
hands to meet the little brown hands 
of the mother who lived in a cellar. 

She managed to make herself un- 
derstood, and there was a good deal 
of low talking, and mysterious signs 
between the two mothers, but they 
understood, as mothers will ; and papa 
pretended he did not see and hear. 
Dorothy told Suey Hip it was just a 
loo 


How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 
month until Christmas, and that 
would not be very long — just four 
little weeks, which would soon pass. 
Then Mrs. Suey shyly asked them 
to come in and have a cup of tea, 
which, served in the dearest little 
bowls, proved to be the best they 
had ever tasted. 

After that there were a great 
many calls from Dorothy and her 
mama, and a great deal more of that 
mysterious whispering between the 
two mothers, until at last it was 
announced that the very next day 
would be Christmas. “Oh, too 
good — too good,” said Suey Hip, 
as she toddled around, too delighted 
to be quiet one minute. 

It seemed as if the day would never 
pass, but after awhile the shadows 
began to fall on the narrow streets, 

lOI 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
and the big lanterns were lighted, and 
made everything beautiful ; and Suey 
Hip knew that she was the only child 
in all the big Chinatown who would 
hang up her stocking that night. 

The hour had come. She got out 
her very best pair of cream-colored 
stockings, and with trembling little 
fingers hung them securely to the 
foot of her couch, and was soon in 
the land of dreams. In the midst of 
her dream she awoke with a start. 
She wondered if he had been here 
yet. It was so dark, but oh — she 
felt as if she just couldn’t wait. But 
she knew mo chun was tired, and she 
did not wish to awaken her, so she 
crept softly to the foot of the bed, 
and groped around in the dark, for 
her stockings. Once she almost fell 
off the bed, but finally her little hands 

102 


How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 

found what she sought, and she felt 
the stockings. 

They were all lumpy and fat, — 
what could be in them? In the top 
of one she felt something large — 
something with hands and feet and 
hair. Oh, joy ! could it be ? But 
she must wait and see. 

Oh, how glad she was when she 
heard mo chun moving, and saw the 
first glimmer of the day steal into 
their cellar home ! With one bound 
she was out of bed, and mo chun was 
as glad as she, for really and truly, 
in the dark night, the “’Melican 
Sanny Claw” had by some means 
crept down there, and just filled her 
stockings with good things. The 
thing with hands and feet and hair 
was a real doll, with big blue eyes 
that opened and shut, and yellow 

103 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
hair and a blue silk dress. It had 
on the dearest little shoes and ear- 
rings, bracelets, a necklace, and a 
nice big hat. 

Oh, how she hugged it to her heart, 
and could scarcely put it down long 
enough to see what else was there. 
Not only were the stockings full, but 
there were lovely things all around. 
There was the nicest little trunk for 
dollie, all full of pretty dresses and 
wraps, and there was doll furniture, 
and the daintiest set of doll dishes. 
It seemed to the poor little Chinese 
girl that she had everything in the 
world there was to have, and — what 
do you suppose ? Poked in through 
the little latticed window they found 
a package, and on it the words — 

“FOR MAMA SUEY, FROM 
SANTA CLAUS.” 

104 


How Santa Claus came to Suey Hip 
When her trembling hands had 
eagerly opened it, what should she 
find but a whole lot of gold money? 
Oh, how happy she was ! Now she 
would not have to work so hard, 
and strain her eyes at night by the 
dim candle. Now, they could have 
some pork whenever they wished, 
and they pictured all the happiness 
it would bring them. When Doro- 
thy’s papa and mama came that day 
they found the happiest hearts in the 
whole big city, and when they saw 
the joy that had come into this 
little cellar home, they were glad 
that they had given the note to dear 
old « Sanny Claw.” 


I 


THE EASTER DREAM OF 
MUN CHEE 




I 





She sometimes longed to get outy she and her two little brothers 




7HE EASTER 
DREAM OF MUN CHEE 


M UN CHEE had a wonderful 
dream one night. Being a 
little Chinese aristocrat, she 
had never played just as the common 
people’s children play, and in her little 
heart she sometimes longed to get 
out, she and her two little brothers, 
and run wild through the narrow Chi- 
nese streets, and to be as free as the 
winds, just as the children of poor 
people might do; but she could not 
do this. So much was due to her 
station in life, as she was to be a 
Chinese lady some far-off day. So 
one night, — just the night before 

109 


Ljittle Almond Blossoms 
Easter, — after she had fallen asleep 
on her couch of bamboo, she dreamed 
a dream as beautiful as a poor child 
— a child of a coolie even might 
dream, for dreams are free to all, rich 
and poor. Perhaps it \vas because 
she had gone to sleep wondering if 
her house would be visited by the 
Easter rabbit, of which an American 
friend had told her ; perhaps — but 
then, it does not matter what the 
reason was, for suddenly she felt 
some soft little taps on her eyelids, 
and a warm breath fanned her cheek, 
and opening her eyes she beheld the 
dearest, cunningest little rabbit — a 
white one, with bright pink eyes. It 
was perched on the edge of her bed, 
and had awakened her by tapping her 
Oriental eyelids with its soft white 
paws. It looked so gentle that she 
I lO 


T'he Easter Dream of Mun Ghee 
loved it right away, and said : « Who 
are you ? ” 

It replied in a tiny voice : « If it 
please your highness, I am the queen 
of the Easter rabbits ; I thought you 
might like to go with me for a little 
visit to my realm, the beautiful Easter- 
land.” 

“ Oh, I likee go,” said Mun Ghee. 
“It must be all light to visit a queen. 
Yes, yes, I will go, but how? ” 

“ Trust to me, and you shall arrive 
safely ; I will carry you on my back.” 

“ You ? Why, you too small ; I 
such a big girl; you no can cally 
me.” 

“Wait and see ! ” said Queen Bunny, 
and with that she began to grow and 
grow and grow, right before Mun 
Ghee’s astonished eyes, and pretty soon 
she was as big as a horse. 


Ill 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 

« Oh, how could you do it ? ” 
gasped the little Chinese girl. 

« Because I am in league with the 
fairies, and have all power,” the queen 
said. “Jump on my back, if it please 
your ladyship, and we will hasten 
away.” 

She jumped gracefully to the back 
of the rabbit, and clasped her plump 
arms tightly around its neck. They 
bounded up, up, until they were so 
high in the air that they could not 
see the world below. 

« I neveh knew that labbits could 
fly,” said she. 

“Well, all rabbits cannot fly,” said 
the queen, “only those of royal 
blood. There are rabbits and rab- 
bits, you know, just as there are 
people and people. My sceptre is 
a white Easter lily, and whoever it 

I 12 


T’he Easter Dream of Mun Chee 
touches is at once possessed of un- 
limited power.” 

Now they came to the land of the 
birds, where they were fairly intoxi- 
cated with the beautiful music thrill- 
ing from the throats of these feathered 
songsters. Some of the trees were 
bright blue, and were filled with all 
kinds of blue birds ; then a yellow 
tree, something like the acacia, was 
filled with canaries, making the air 
fairly alive with song. So they floated 
on, until the songs of the birds were 
but an echo. 

Then came Candy-land. My! how 
good it smelled in this wonderful 
place — all pepper-minty and nice I 
and what a variety of trees there 
were — some big, big trees, just full 
of Chinese preserved ginger! and how 
Mun Chee did long to put her strong 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
white teeth into some of it ! Then 
there were trees so soft and white 
that they looked almost as if they 
were covered with snow ; but it 
really was only white marsh-mallows. 
Then there were tiny Chinese fairies 
running all around, pulling bon-bons 
apart, and squealing with delight 
when they popped. 

Then came Monkey-land, and this 
was the funniest of all, and even 
made a little Chinese girl laugh. 
Some of them were playing a game 
of base-ball with cocoanuts, and Mun 
Chee was all the time afraid one of 
them would get hit in the head ; but 
they seemed to know just how to 
avoid that. Some of them ran up 
and asked her to stay to dinner with 
them, and then, when they thought 
she was not looking, they made such 

114 


"The Easter Dream of Mun Ghee 
horrible faces at her that she was glad 
she had not accepted their invitation. 
After she had watched several games 
she hurried on again, looking back 
once, to see some of the monkeys 
throwing kisses at her and others 
making the ugliest faces. That 
might have been their way of being 
polite, though she really could not 
say, as she was not up in the etiquette 
of monkeys. 

Next came the land of bears. 
There were all kinds, — black, brown, 
and white. She was scared at first, 
but the rabbit queen assured her they 
were harmless, and warranted not to 
hug. They were dancing some kind 
of a queer dance, and one silky white 
one, that looked just like a rug she 
had at home, came and asked if the 
little celestial aristocrat would honor 

115 


Little Almond Blossoms 
him with the next dance. A look 
from the eyes of Queen Bunny told 
her she had better accept, and she did 
so, smiling graciously upon the bear. 
Around they went, in a giddy whirl, 
her queue flying in the wind, until 
it seemed to Mun Chee that every- 
thing was going around with them, 
and she panted: “If it’s just the 
same to you, I ’d rather sit out the 
rest of this dance.” 

“ Certainly, your highness,” growled 
old bruin, and when she was seated he 
brought her a dish of sweetened snow- 
balls, which were quite refreshing. 

When she told them good-by this 
same bear could not resist the tempta- 
tion of giving her just a teeny-weeny 
hug, but it did n’t hurt, and she was 
quite sure he meant it as a mark of 
especial favor. 


"The Easter Dream of Mun Chee 
Next came the land of cats. Each 
land had its queen, and here it was 
Queen Malta, an immense maltese 
cat with large, yellow eyes. Such a 
purring as they made when they saw 
Mun Chee and Queen Bunny ap- 
proaching ! It was not often they 
were honored by royalty. The queen 
approached them, walking on her 
hind legs, her long silky tail held by 
a page, — a tiny white kitten, dressed 
in gauze and spangles. 

“ In what way shall it please your 
gracious majesties to be entertained?” 
said Queen Malta; but to any one else 
it would have sounded like “Miaouw 
— miaouw — miaouw — ” 

Mun Chee replied : « I likee some 
music.” 

Thereupon the queen tapped a 
silver bell, and there sprang lightly 

117 


Little Almond Blossoms 
into view a perfect chorus of the 
most beautiful cats. After curtsey- 
ing to the royal guests they began 
the music, and they sang the funni- 
est songs imaginable. Mun Chee 
laughed till her little sides ached, 
but when she applauded, the noise 
scared away all the cats, and they 
scampered off, regardless of good 
manners. Queen Malta called them 
back, and explained matters, how- 
ever, and the program was carried 
out without any further commotion. 
Mun Chee would like to have lin- 
gered for quite a while in each of 
these strange countries, but Queen 
Bunny told her it was approaching 
the hour when they were expected 
at the Easter castle, and so, after a 
few more swift turns through the air, 
they began to descend softly, softly, 
1 18 


The Easter Dream of Mun Chee 
until faint strains of music fell upon 
their ears. 

It was a triumphant march of wel- 
come, and the notes rose glad and 
high. Soon Mun Chee felt her feet 
touch the soft grass, and unclasping 
her arms from about the rabbit’s 
neck, she stood and gazed about her 
in a perfect bewilderment of rapture. 
This was so different from any of 
the other countries ; everywhere the 
eye rested upon the soft green tracery 
of leaves and trees, great beds of 
delicate fern, and flowers of every 
hue. Through an avenue of tall, 
waxen Easter lilies she was conducted 
by two tiny white rabbits, and 
as they walked, a glorious anthem 
sounded from all the great Easter 
lilies, and the golden clappers clanged 
musically against their satin whiteness. 

119 


Little Almond Blossoms 
All the while there was a strange 
and wonderful perfume filling the 
air, even sweeter than the scent of 
the punks burned before the joss in 
the temple. Some of the lilies bent 
down and kissed the dear little Chi- 
nese maiden as she passed, and their 
breath was sweeter than any per- 
fume. After being royally enter- 
tained in the palace of pure white 
pearl the child was conducted into 
the queen’s garden, where a feast 
was spread under the shade of some 
tall ferns. Being seated, they were 
served to delicious tea, in dainty 
cups, shaped like Easter lilies. Many 
good things were placed before the 
little girl, who was very hungry, after 
her long flight through the air, and 
nothing in her own home had ever 
tasted half so good as did these 
120 


The faster Dream of Mun Chee 
dishes served by the dear little white 
rabbits. 

After much chatting and laughing 
the strange meal was ended, and the 
rabbit queen presented Mun Chee 
with a large basket of pearl and silver, 
lined with blue and yellow, the colors 
of the Imperial Court of China, and 
announced that they would now start 
out in search of Easter eggs. “Oh, 
what fun !” said Mun Chee, clapping 
her hands for joy. A white rabbit 
page went by her side, and carried 
her basket. Soon they came to a 
dense forest of fern, and Mun Chee 
heard a high, squeaky voice saying : 

“ Search for the one with long, long legs, 

And you may find some Easter eggs.” 

“How queer!” thought Mun 
Chee, “ to tell me about it. Well, 


121 


hittle Almond Blossoms 
if it has velly long legs I betteh quit 
looking on the glound, and look 
up.” She did so, and away back 
among the ferns she saw some funny 
bright eyes peeping at her. 

“ Why, it is a stok ” (^stork), she 
exclaimed. 

With that the stork came forward, 
and extended a long claw in greet- 
ing, and, pointing to a large nest 
artfully concealed among the ferns, 
he said: “You may take what you 
see, and welcome.” 

“ Oh, thank you ! ” she said, and 
taking several of the very large eggs, 
placed them carefully in her basket. 

“Oh, they won’t break,” said Queen 
Bunny. “The eggs in Easter-land 
are warranted not to break.” 

And now the soft trill of a canary 
rippled from a tree, — a tiny tree, 

122 


I 

T'he Easter Dream of Mun Ghee 

that a child could easily reach. Sure 
enough, there was the dearest little 
canary, perched on a branch, sing- 
ing sweetly, — 

“ Come and see ! come and see. 

What Canary has for thee.” 

There in the little nest were a lot 
of the tiniest eggs, and all bright 
yellow, just the color of Mrs. Canary 
herself. 

“Oh, you gentle little thing — 
you so good to give me youh cun- 
ning little eggs.” 

“ Don’t mention it ! ” said Canary. 

Then a white dove cooed from its 
house near by, — 

“ Coo-coo, you are true. 

Come and take my gift for you.” 

Her gift was six eggs, pure white, 
with just the tiniest little pink polka- 

123 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
dots in them. While she was admir- 
ing them she heard a gentle purr, 
which seemed to come from the 
ground under her feet, and looking 
down she saw peeping from a moss- 
lined hole in the ground a pair of 
pink eyes, and a white, soft paw, as the 
voice of this Easter rabbit purred, — 

Put your hand into the ground. 

And find what no one else has found/’ 

“Well, I likee find what no one 
else has found,” she said; and putting 
her hand into the moss-lined nest, 
she drew out — not an egg, as she 
had expected, but six of the tiniest 
baby rabbits, no bigger than her 
thumb. 

“ Oh, you cunning little babies ! 
You shall go and live with me,” said 
Mun Chee ; and thanking the Easter 

124 


The Easter Dream of Mun Chee 
rabbit, she passed on to the home 
of a blue-bird, on a swinging bough, 
and heard her singing, — 

“ Roses red, my eggs are blue. 

Come ! and I will give you two.” 

What a beautiful blue they were, 
to be sure ! just like the sky. Then 
a loud cackling fell upon her ear, and 
she could distinguish the words, — 

“ If you will give me a piece of bread 
I ’ll bring you some eggs, all bright and red.” 

She saw that the queer voice came 
from a bright red little hen, who gave 
her some beautiful eggs when she had 
given the bread. 

Following the sound of a sharp 
voice she walked along the path until 
she came to a most beautiful pea- 
cock, gorgeous in the spread of its 
wonderful plumage. 


125 


Little Almond Blossoms 

This pleased her more than any of 
the others, because the peacock feather 
is sacred to the Chinese, and is used 
in their temples where they pray to 
the joss. The peacock’s offering was 
a very large bunch of these brilliant 
feathers, to take to her mo chun^ while 
it said in a queer, sharp voice, — 

‘‘ It matters not, my little one, how stormy is 
the weather ; 

The joss will always care for those who have 
a peacock feather/’ 

« Now for the last place,” said 
Queen Bunny; and following the 
sound of a terrible screeching noise, 
they climbed a ladder into a tall tree, 
and there was a beautiful American 
eagle. It was not cross a bit, as 
eagles usually are, but was singing, — 

“ The gift I have, little girl, for you 
Is three big eggs — red, white, and blue.” 
126 


The Easter Dream of Mun Chee 
It seemed to Mun Chee that the 
best came last, for these were such 
beautiful eggs, and so different from 
any of the others. Her basket was 
quite full now, and as she saw the 
shade growing more dense beneath 
the trees she thought it must be 
quite time for her to return to her 
own home. So, after bidding good-by 
to all the royal company of white 
rabbits, and having her arms filled 
with the fragrant China lilies, she 
sprang upon the queen’s back once 
more, and sped away — away — far 
from the Easter palace — the palace 
of a dream. 


127 


/ 




PING PONG AND PING TET 





PING PONG 
AND PING PET 


P ING PONG was not a game, 
but a dear little Chinese boy, 
who was eagerly looking for- 
ward to something whieh was almost 
like an American Christmas. The 
Chinese do not have any Christmas, 
but they have something else which 
serves the purpose, as far as their 
eager little hearts are concerned, and 
that is, the Festival of the Moon. 
Ping Pong’s round, fat, and very dirty 
face looked something like a moon 
as he leaned over the counter in his 
father’s drug store, and watched him 
weigh and mix portions of dried 
lizards and snakes for his customers ; 

131 


Little Almond Blossoms 
for the Chinese use dried lizards and 
snakes, and all sorts of funny things, 
for medicine. 

It would seem so very queer to 
an American child, but it did not 
strike little Ping Pong as being at 
all out of the way, and he would 
probably have thought it just as 
strange to know that people took 
powders and pills. He thought when 
he grew up to be a “ velly big man ” 
like his father, he would either be a 
druggist or a highbinder, or better 
still he might be both ; yet, a high- 
binder was one who always sought 
a way of killing people he did not 
like, and a druggist sometimes killed 
people he really did like, — but that 
was always through mistake, of course. 

Ping Pong and his dear little sister 
Ping Yet were teasing the good- 

132 


Ping Pong and Ping Tet 
natured father to take them to the 
joss house. That was indeed a queer 
idea. Why should two children 
wish to go to the temple to pray to 
the joss? Surely the father could 
pray enough for himself and his 
family, too. But he never liked 
to refuse any reasonable request of 
his children, so he asked advice of 
the little mother, who was engaged 
in some very mysterious occupation 
which compelled her to keep the 
kitchen door locked. Mo chun 
opened the door cautiously, and, 
peeping out, whispered to ho chun^ 
who smiled in a peculiar way. 
“What foh you likee go joss house, 
you hai tongs?" (^babies j, she now 
asked, and Ping Pong replied : “ We 
likee play to good joss to bling us 
pletty moon-cakes.” 


133 


Little Almond Blossoms 

The mother had to giggle at that, 
in her dear little Chinese way, for 
she knew a good deal about moon- 
cakes, and knew about the white 
rabbit. But she was not going to 
tell all she knew, just now, so she 
only smiled in her sweet mother 
way, and gave her consent to their 
going. 

It was just getting dark when 
they left, and the proud father started 
out to the joss house with a happy 
child on each side of him, and two 
small brown hands clasped tightly in 
his big brown ones. They had never 
been to the temple before, but they 
had heard it was a very good thing 
to do when one wanted anything 
very badly. 

« How pletty the big dlagon lan- 
tehns look ! ” they exclaimed. 

134 


Ping Pong and Ping Yet 

Yes, the big lanterns did indeed 
look pretty, as they gleamed and 
swayed in front of every door in the 
big Chinatown of San Francisco, and 
looked like big golden moons, al- 
most as big as the moon in which 
the white rabbit lived. The streets 
were very gay at this season, and the 
shops were full of people buying 
gifts. 

Little Ping Yet made a very pretty 
picture as she shyly patted down the 
narrow streets with her embroidered 
sandals, wide silken trousers, and 
blue silk blouse richly embroidered 
by the loving fingers of her dear mo 
chun. Her polished hair was done 
in a queue. 

The moon rabbit must surely have 
passed this way, for the windows were 
all full of little cakes shaped like the 

135 


L,itth Almond Blossoms 
moon. They thought that all the 
year, while they were flying kites, 
popping fire-crackers, and playing in 
the street in front of their home, the 
white rabbit must be always pound- 
ing rice. 

It took them a very long time to 
get to the joss house, because there 
were so many interesting things on 
the way. Ping Pong, in boyish eager- 
ness, pressed his little nose and dirty 
fingers right up against the glass in 
one place, or at leas^t he thought it 
was the glass, until he fell right in, 
with his nose on a candy pagoda 
thirteen stories high, and then he 
found out his mistake. That glass 
happened to be broken out, and he 
was very much embarrassed. The 
gingerbread peacock seemed to glare 
scornfully at him as his ho chun pulled 

136 


Ping Pong and Ping Tet 
him out, and the painted gods and 
goddesses seemed to smile on him in 
a pitying way. 

Little Ping Yet was as much 
ashamed as if she herself had fallen 
with her nose on a Chinese pagoda, 
and she hid her face with her wide 
silken sleeves. But the shop-keeper 
was good natured and said, with a 
kindly pat of the button on top of 
Ping Pong’s round Chinese cap, 
“ Neveh mind! that’s all light; you 
heap good samen jai and ne jai (boy 
and girl). I hope you get heap 
plenty moon-cake flom the white 
labbit.” 

They wandered on in happy aban- 
don, until they reached the long 
steps, which, ho chun informed them, 
led up to the temple of the good 
Joss. They had so often wondered 

137 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
what the joss looked like ; was he a 
big rabbit, or a peacock, or perhaps 
a dragon with scaly sides and spit- 
ting fire? They secretly hoped, in 
their innocent little hearts, that if it 
was a « dlagon ” he would refrain 
from spitting fire while they were 
there. When they thought of what 
might await them, they were almost 
sorry they had come, and their timid 
little hearts beat fearfully against their 
blouses; but the touch of ho chun s 
strong hand was reassuring, and they 
reflected that surely there could be 
nothing so very dreadful up there, or 
he would not have taken them. 

First they passed through a room 
where some Chinamen were selling 
long narrow red-paper packages of 
incense sticks. Ho chun bought one, 
and the men spoke kindly to the 

138 


on. 


Ping Pong and Ping Yet 
boy and girl, and they passed 
Up another flight of steps they went, 
until it seemed as if they must be 
almost as high up as the moon. A 
strong odor of incense greeted their 
nostrils, and it seemed good, for 
they were accustomed to it, as it 
was always burning at home before 
the dilFerent gods and ancestral 
tablets. 

The odor grew stronger, and they 
heard some one beating the big 
gong. Soon they had placed their 
sandalled feet upon the last step, 
and their oblique eyes were fairly 
dazzled with the sparkle and beauty 
of it all. 

“ Where joss ? I likee see him,” 
they both exclaimed in awed whis- 
pers, while ho chun pointed to the 
gaudy altar, gay with its brass carv- 

139 


L.ittle Almond Blossoms 
ings and rosettes of red paper. Bright 
peacock feathers were plentiful, and 
seemed to stare at them with a thou- 
sand eyes. Back of it all, in a shel- 
tered recess, was the joss. They 
heaved a sigh of relief that he was 
not a dragon. An American child 
would have thought him perfectly 
hideous, but the Chinese children 
have such different ideas, and they 
exclaimed rapturously, « Oh, velly 
pletty joss ! heap fine god ; me 
likee.” 

Perhaps they thought it best to 
say very nice things of him in his 
presence, however, because it would 
never do to offend him, or he might 
not allow the white “ labbit ” to visit 
them. So they ventured quite near, 
and spoke in tones he could not fail 
to hear. 


140 


Ping Pong and Ping Tet 
After a whispered consultation with 
ho chun they opened the pretty red- 
paper package, and each took from 
it two incense sticks, and their father 
having lighted them, the children 
waved them several times right under 
the nose of the great and high one, 
and bowed their little heads to the 
floor a great many times, meanwhile 
asking in their innocent little way that 
the good joss would please make the 
white rabbit bring them something 
nice. When they had finished, they 
placed the rest of the incense sticks 
in the great brass urn in front of the 
joss, and the sacred ashes fell down 
and helped to fill it up. Every time 
they had bowed their heads the big 
gong had been beaten, and at first 
the noise had frightened them, but 
finally they grew to like it. 


ILitth Almond Blossoms 
Ho chun thought that while they 
were there, they had better try throw- 
ing the fortune sticks, as he knew it 
would please them, so he picked up 
a tall round box, full of bamboo 
sticks, and explained it to them. 
They first asked the joss “ Will we 
get any moon-cakes ? ” Then each 
in turn took the box and shook it 
until one stick fell out, when they 
picked it up, and ho chun read the 
Chinese number on it, then looked 
in a book and found out what that 
number said. Fortunately the an- 
swer was favorable, and they felt 
happy now. That meant that they 
might really expect some gift from 
the moon rabbit. 

Before going home they all stepped 
out on the beautiful balcony on 
which were swinging the biggest lan- 
142 


Ping Pong and Ping Yet 
terns they had ever seen, and they 
leaned over the edge, where there 
were great pots of the pretty China 
lily in blossom, with red papers tied 
around the stems, and looked at the 
hundreds of people passing below 
them. The grown-up people all had 
their arms full of bundles, and little 
three-cornered brown paper parcels. 
All was noisy and happy and bright, 
because it was the eve of the Moon 
Festival, and the shopping must all be 
done before the rabbit should come. 

Down the long steps they went 
again, and into the crowded street, 
where all was joy and delight, and 
mysterious whispering. 

« Oh, that pletty pagoda ! ” said 
Ping Pong, « I so ’flaid the labbit no 
bling me pagoda, I think ho chun 
betteh get.” 


143 


Little Almond Blossoms 

Ho chun laughed and said, “No! 
I wait and see if the labbit come, I 
think bimeby he come and bling 
pagoda ; I no can tell — we wait 
and see.” 

But what if he should forget to 
bring one ? and they were such beau- 
tiful pagodas, and all made of candy. 
The little round faces were sober for 
a while, thinking how very dreadful 
it would be if, after all, the rabbit 
did not come, or, if he did come, 
and should forget to bring the much- 
desired pagoda. 

They were very tired when at last 
they reached their home, over which 
gleamed the big golden Chinese let- 
ters of welcome, and in a little bowl 
beside the door burned the punk 
sticks, day and night, to keep the 
evil spirits from entering their home. 

144 


Ping Pong and Ping Yet 
Their tired little legs could hardly 
climb the stairs, but at last they were 
there, and had tumbled into the 
mother’s loving arms, and had been 
kissed and questioned thoroughly. 

Mo chun was really astonished to 
hear of the glorious time they had 
enjoyed, and of the many wonders 
they had seen. When they men- 
tioned the pagoda she was suddenly 
seized with the giggles, and her laugh- 
ter was so merry and contagious 
that they all laughed till their sides 
ached, though the children could not 
have told why they laughed. The 
mother and father knew why, but 
they would not tell. The hour had 
come, and indeed it was long past 
the hour when they should have 
gone to bed, but then the beautiful 
Moon Festival came only once a year, 

145 


hittle Almond Blossoms 
and so they might be allowed a few 
privileges. They were finally asleep 
on their beds of matting, and the 
mother looked tenderly at the rosy 
little faces as she went into the 
kitchen — the kitchen which for 
some reason had been locked all 
day. 

Well, morning came at last, as 
it always does, and before the sun 
was up Ping Pong and his sister 
jumped out of bed, exclaiming: 
“ Oh, mo chun^ has the white labbit 
been ? ” 

Oh, what were all those beautiful 
things on the table ? Why, the whole 
room was changed. When they had 
gone to bed the night before, there 
was nothing there but just the things 
that belonged in the room, and now 
— and now — The white rabbit had 

146 



There was a big bouquet for Pi fig Pong 


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Ping Pong and Ping Tet 
surely been here, for the table was 
covered with the most beautiful gifts 
they had ever seen, — lots of cunning 
little moon-cakes, sprinkled with 
poppy and caraway seed ; and some 
like a horse and a cow, and all sorts 
of funny animals. And there was a 
big bouquet for Ping Pong, because 
it was his birthday too. 

There were also some big candy 
dragons, with great staring eyes, but 
now, instead of the dragons eating 
them, they were going to eat the 
dragons. My ! what fun that would 
be ! and they could not wait, but 
planted their strong white teeth 
in the white heads, and bit them 
olF. My ! how sweet they were ! 
so sweet that their bodies went next, 
and soon there were no dragons 
at all. 


147 


Ljittle Almond Blossoms 

There were all kinds of gaudily 
painted toys of clay, and little Ping 
Yet’s dancing eyes danced more than 
ever, and she fairly rippled over with 
smiles when she saw, sticking out of a 
bright red pair of embroidered san- 
dals, a real Chinese doll. It looked 
very much like Ping Yet herself, with 
its bright black eyes, rosy cheeks, 
and coal-black hair. She thought it 
surely must be the most beautiful 
thing in the whole big world, but 
mo chun said she knew something 
more beautiful. The little one won- 
dered vaguely what it could be, and 
how anything could be more beauti- 
ful, but she was too busy to wonder 
long, for Ping Pong had uttered such 
a shriek of delight that she almost 
jumped out of her little sandals. 
What could be the matter ? 

148 


Ping Pong and Ping Yet 
“What foh you cly ? you buhn 
youh fingeh ? ” she cried ; and he in 
reply pointed to the cause of all his 
excitement ; it was — oh, joy ! — a 
pagoda, and mo chun said : 

“ The dragon pagoda it touches the sky ; 

The dragon pagoda, thirteen stories high.” 

It was just exactly like the one 
they had asked ho chun to buy, 
and the dear white rabbit in the 
moon must have seen right down 
into their minds and brought what 
they wished. And oh, they were 
so glad now that they had gone to 
the joss house, and burned the in- 
cense and thrown the fortune sticks, 
for if they had not — who knows ? 
— the white rabbit might have for- 
gotten them. 


149 



THE LITTLE ALMOND BLOSSOM 




THE LITTLE 
ALMOND BLOSSOM 

M o CHUN called her the 
little Almond Blossom, as 
she was so bright and beau- 
tiful, and she loved her so. Her real 
name was Gum Sing, and she was, 
so the mother thought, the prettiest 
thing in all the big Chinatown of 
San Francisco. 

Gum Sing’s father kept a store, 
where they sold all sorts of fine 
china and silk. She often went to 
her father’s store, but never alone. 
Oh, no ! she was too precious to be 
trusted out alone, and then she was 
too young to find her way through 
the winding streets, and the doors all 

153 


Liittle Almond Blossoms 
looked alike to her, so the mo chun 
or the nurse always accompanied 
her. 

Gum Sing had such a round, dim- 
pled face, and there always seemed 
to be kisses lurking in the dimples. 
And she had the merriest little laugh, 
— just like music to her mother. 
It was not enough for mo chun to see 
this little face every day, and to sleep 
on the hard pillow with it at night. 
No, that was not enough, for how 
could any one ever have enough of 
so fair a thing ? So the father and 
mother agreed that their little Al- 
mond Blossom must have her picture 
taken. That was a great day in the 
house of Gum. Such an event had 
never happened before. 

Now Gum Sing did not know at 
all what it meant to have her picture 

154 


The Tittle Almond Blossom 
taken, but she knew by the smiles 
on her mother’s face, and by the 
careful and proud manner in which 
she was being arrayed, that it could 
be no small thing, and that some 
way or other she was expected to 
look as beautiful and as much like 
the almond flower as she could, as 
that was sacred to the Chinese. 

With delight she saw that she was 
to wear her lavender silk blouse. 
« Oh, mo chunT she giggled, « I likee 
wear ho chun' s big gold watch.” 

Now, although the little mother 
did not think it just exactly the 
proper thing for any one so tiny as 
Gum Sing to wear a watch and chain, 
yet this was such an important event 
— and such a proud moment for 
her — that she could see no harm 
in letting her have her way about it 

155 


Little Almond Blossoms 
this time. She insisted upon carry- 
ing mo chun' s big fan, too, and it cer- 
tainly did look very wonderful to see 
it clasped in the tiny brown hand. 

The trousers of pink silk were so 
bright and pretty, and the dainty 
little sandals had been embroidered 
by mo chun herself. 

When all was ready, ho chun ap- 
peared on the scene, and the happy 
party started out for the photograph 
gallery of Hen Yin Gock. 

“ I so happy — I so glad,” giggled 
the little Gum Sing, not knowing just 
what she was happy about, only she 
was such a happy little thing always, 
and being the only child had so 
much love given her. At last they 
reached the place. There did not 
seem to be anything wonderful about 
it. There was a window with a lot 

156 


The Tittle Almond Blossom 
of pictures in it, and a crowd of 
Chinamen were jostling each other 
to see them. Then they ascended the 
stairway and rapped on the door, and 
some one called out in Chinese, “ Tap 
loi leT which means “ Come in.” 

They went in, and the man talked 
to them pleasantly, but when he went 
and put his head under a black cur- 
tain on some kind of a box, then 
Gum Sing thought it was time to 
complain. This was too much ! 
She cried : “ Mo chun — I no likee 
— will it hurt ? I ’flaid the big 
dlagon come out of the box.” (The 
nurse had evidently been telling 
her stories about the big Chinese 
dragon.) 

Then the good Hen Yin Gock 
came out from the curtain, and 
assured her that there was no danger. 

157 


Little Almond Blossoms 
He brought out two lovely yellow 
roses in a vase, and put them on a 
small table with a bright cover, and 
then told Gum Sing : “ If you heap 
good girl, and do what I say, I give 
you the floweh, pletty soon.” 

Then he also placed on the table 
a flute, with gaily colored tassels, and 
then the cunningest little jar, which 
looked very much as if it might con- 
tain preserved ginger, and she was 
just thinking how much she liked 
preserved ginger when the man said : 
“ Now keep still ! look light at this 
box ! ” (The little mother trembled ; 
could it be that after all there was 
something horrible in the box?) 
“ There is a little bird in this box, 
and you may see it fly out if you 
are quiet. Now! — all leady!” 
(ready). 

158 


l^he Little Almond Blossom 

Gum Sing was so full of giggles 
that she could hardly be quiet, and 
the dimples chased each other all 
over her sunny face. The father and ‘ 
mother gazed with love and admira- 
tion at the beauty of their little 
almond flower, with one hand thrown 
carelessly on the table and the other 
grasping the fan. 

« There ! ” at last said the pho- 
tographer. 

Gum Sing wanted to know what 
it was all about, yet she could not 
seem to find out. But several days 
after that, when ho chun was out on 
the pavement in front of their home, 
putting some China lilies in a bowl 
of water, a man came, and handed 
him a little package. Gum Sing was 
all curiosity in a minute. 

« Oh, ho chun^ what is it ? Let 

159 


luittle Almond Blossoms 
me see ! ” she cried, and mo chun 
was almost as eager. So the father 
opened the package while they 
waited wonderingly, and there, before 
their eyes, on pieces of polished card- 
board — could it be ? — yes, yes ! — 
the picture of their little Almond 
Blossom — big watch, fan, dimples, 
giggle and all. 

But Gum Sing wonders to this day 
why the bird did not come out of 
the box. 


i6o 


THE CHRISTMAS OF GUM CHING 



THE CHRIST- 
MAS OF GUM CHING 

G um CHING lived in America, 
but she had no way of know- 
ing it, as she never saw any 
of the country, and was kept in her 
home all the time. As she was un- 
fortunate enough to be a girl, she had 
never been permitted to go anywhere, 
except to play on the street in front 
of her father’s store. Sometimes, 
when playing thus, she had seen little 
American girls drive by in carriages 
with their mamas, and they seemed 
to be having so much fun that little 
Gum Ching would look very sad after 
they had passed, and would say to 
her brother Gum Lee : “ I wish I 

163 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
was a ’Melican little girl — they have 
heap good time.” 

It was Christmas day, yet this 
had never meant any happiness for 
Gum Ching, for the Chinese save all 
their good times for the New Year. 
But it chanced that her little brother 
had been attending the Mission, and 
learning to read, and the little sister 
had heard him say that they were 
going to have a Christmas tree at the 
Mission that very night. 

« What can a Christmas tree be ? ” 
said the little Chinese girl to herself; 
and her thoughts were busy with this 
all day, wondering what kind of a 
strange tree it was. 

Oh, if she could only go ! But how 
could she, when she had never been 
out of Chinatown, and there might 
be all sorts of ugly things waiting to 

164 


The Christmas of Gum Ching 
catch her as she passed. She could 
see the Mission from their upstairs 
window, and she wondered vaguely 
if any of the little “ ’Melican ” girls 
who had passed in their carriages 
would be there. She said to herself: 
« Even if they should punish me 
when I get home I no care — be- 
cause then I have something nice to 
think of, anyway.” 

The darkness came at last, and 
Gum Ching had never been out in 
the dark. She never knew before 
that it was quite so black, but she 
had made up her mind to go, no 
matter what the consequences were. 

Now Gum Ching did not have 
any mama, and it was very lonely 
for her at home, with no one but 
just her ho chun and the little brother, 
who was always off playing with 

165 


hittle Almond Blossoms 
some boys. After she had eaten her 
supper, and had seen ho chun light 
his long opium pipe, she knew then 
that he would lie down, and not 
awaken until the morning. So she 
slipped out and toddled on, in her 
small sandals, in the direction of the 
light which streamed from the win- 
dows of the mission. 

She looked up at the sky, and was 
just saying : “ I wondeh what those 
pletty spahkling things are up there; 
I likee have one ; ” when suddenly 
she heard a mighty roar, and right 
through the blackness of the night 
came a great demon of fire, snorting, 
puffing, and screaming, and coming 
right toward the poor little trem- 
bling Gum Ching. She feared to 
move, and so stood quite still until 
the big giant had passed, and van- 


The Christmas of Gum Ching 
ished again into the darkness of the 
night. 

It was only the train, but Gum 
Ching did not know. She was only 
a girl. Onward she started again, 
brave little soul, and soon she had 
reached the Mission. No one would 
ever know what a terrible under- 
taking it was for a little girl from 
China. 

The door was open, and a soft 
radiance streamed out, and lit up the 
timid form of the little Gum Ching, 
as she stood on the step, in the dark 
and the cold. 

She could hear a confused murmur 
of happy voices, and just as she was 
hesitating whether she would ven- 
ture in or turn and fly back to her 
lonely home again, a kind hand 
clasped hers, and a woman’s tender 

167 


Liittle Almond Blossoms 
voice said : « Why, come right in, 

dear.” 

Gum Ching’s eyes filled w^ith tears, 
for she had never before known the 
sweetness of a loving woman’s voice. 
She was led into the room, not even 
caring now if she was punished, for 
it was well worth it. Her sparkling 
oblique eyes almost danced out of 
her head at all this beauty. Every- 
where were sparkles — sparkles — and 
they fairly dazzled her. It must be 
a dream, she thought. She looked 
before her, and — what was that great 
green tree towering toward the ceil- 
ing ? It was — it must be — the 
Christmas tree ! And did all those 
pretty things really grow on the 
tree ? she could not understand it. 

Her brother could not believe his 
eyes when he saw her there. She ? — 

i68 


"The Christmas of Gum Ching 
nothing but a girl ? — what right had 
she to enjoy herself? But she was 
there, for all that, and her small 
brown and timid hand was held in 
a warm and loving clasp by one of 
the kind teachers, and she was made 
to feel that, after all, in the big lonely 
world there was some one who cared, 
and her little heart was full to over- 
flowing, and she had to blink very 
hard to keep back the tears — tears 
of pure joy. 

She was given many things from 
that beautiful tree, and, best of all, 
the teacher took her home ; and 
ho chun was good to her, and did not 
punish her at all, but promised — 
just think of it! promised — that 
she could go to the tree again next 
year. 


169 



Sr 





HO CHIN’S FOURTH OF JULT 


\ 


I 


HO CHIN’S 
FOURTH OF JULY 

H O CHIN was ten years old, 
and had never had a Fourth 
of July. Just think of it ! 
Ho Chin was the son of the Chinese 
Consul, and his rank placed him so 
far above the ordinary Chinese boys 
that he was very much looked up to, 
and respected by them. Ho Chin 
did not live in one of the small, dark, 
opium-scented rooms in which the 
rest of the Chinese children lived, 
but in the elegant Consulate with its 
large rooms and marble stairway; 
but, after all, he was just a boy, and 
liked the things that boys liked. 
He attended a very select American 

173 


Little Almond Blossoms 
school, and dressed in American style. 
In fact, nothing was too good for 
Ho Chin — the eldest son of a Con- 
sul. But you know, sometimes he 
almost wished he was a common boy, 
and could run and play, and have 
the perfect freedom of the street 

Now at school he had of late heard 
of nothing but the Fourth of July. 
“What is the Fourth of July?” he 
finally ventured to ask. 

And Johnny Moore replied, only 
too glad to be the first one to divulge 
all its wonders, “ Why, it’s — it’s — 
fire-crackers, you know, and flags 
and soldiers, and popcorn and pea- 
nuts, and — and — everything. It ’s 
the best time of the year; say, it’s 
just bully ! Did n’t you ever see 
one ? ” 


174 


Ho Chin's Fourth of fuly 

“No,” gasped the delighted Ho 
Chin. « Oh, do you think my papa 
would let me ? ” And from that 
time on he could hardly study, his 
mind Was so taken up with this new 
subject, and he acted so strangely at 
home that his mama, who was a 
beautiful Chinese lady and loved her 
handsome boy, was very much wor- 
ried over the change in him. He 
would leave his tea and rice untasted, 
and rush from the table most unex- 
pectedly. Why? Because he had 
heard a faint whistle outside, from 
some of his American boy friends, 
and he was eager to get out to them, 
to talk about the wonderful event 
which was coming so near. 

The more he thought of it, the 
more he decided in his mind that he 
had better not tell his father about 


175 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
it, because if he told him and should 
be refused — if — Oh, he could not 
bear the thought. He knew that his 
father had never allowed him alone 
on the Chinese streets, for wise fathers 
always accompany their children. 
For who could tell when the child 
of a wealthy and noted man might 
be kidnapped ? And the timid little 
Chinese mother was never really 
happy when he was out of her 
sight. 

So the time flew by. The Consul 
was called to a distant part of the 
state on ofiicial business, and when 
Ho Chin awoke in the gray dawn of 
the early morning his first thought 
was: “Well, I can’t tell papa when 
he is not here, and I know if I told 
mama she would not let me go. 
What will I do ? I can’t miss it. 

176 



Through the narrow streets 




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Ho Chin' s Fourth of fuly 
The boys will think I am a coward 
if I don’t go, and — I have some 
money of my own.” 

So saying, he crept out of bed, 
and astonished the servants by his 
early demand for breakfast. He knew 
his dainty mama would not leave her 
apartments for some time, for it took 
so long for the maids to dress her 
hair, and manicure her finger-nails, 
and array her in her rich silks ; so, 
avoiding the eyes of the servants, he 
crept stealthily down the long mar- 
ble stairway, jingling the money in 
his pocket as he went, and out 
through the narrow streets, whistling 
merrily, in the perfect delight of 
freedom. He knew he was not do- 
ing right, but here he was, at the 
gate of Johnny’s house, and there was 
Johnny himself, just running out at 

177 


12 


Little Almond Blossoms 
the door, cap in hand. His face 
wore a look of delight as he saw the 
Chinese boy, and he yelled : “ How’d 
you get here ? ” 

« Oh, I just came ; nobody knows 
it — and say ! Let ’s begin ! I Ve 
got some money; let’s go to old 
Sing Chew, he ’s got a whole store 
full of fire-crackers.” 

Johnny’s mama, looking out of 
the window, remarked to her hus- 
band, “So they allowed him to come, 
after all. Well, I ’m glad of that, for 
he seems such a dear little fellow.” 

Ho Chin was as happy as it is pos- 
sible for a boy to be, when he found 
himself in the wonderful store. Old 
Sing Chew was awfully busy, but not 
so busy that he could not see the 
son of the Consul, and hastened to 
attend to his wants. 

178 


Ho Chin's Fourth of "July 

« How is it that you come alone ? 
I neveh see you come unless your 
ho chun bling you,” he said. 

The boy replied, « Oh, I am a big 
boy now, and I like to have a good 
time on the Fourth of July. This 
is my friend ! — he goes with me.” 
And the old man believed him, 
and admired the beautiful com- 
mand the boy had of the English 
language. 

It seemed a wonderful thing to 
Johnny that any one boy could have 
so much money to spend. It seemed 
great wealth to him, because he had 
only twenty-five cents for his fire- 
crackers, but the young Ho was as 
generous as could be, and they left 
the store with all they could carry. 

What a pleasure to be a boy on 
the streets, where all was noise and 

179 


Little Almond Blossoms 
confusion and incessant popping of 
fire-crackers. One boy threw a bunch 
under a horse’s feet, and he ran away 
and frightened a lot of people. 
There were crowds of boys — boys 
everywhere, and a good many Chi- 
nese boys, but only those of the 
lower class. What would his papa 
think if he should meet him now, 
his hands and face all black with 
powder, and a wild and reckless air 
about him, which did not seem at 
all like the quiet little fellow his 
papa knew. 

Finally the great parade approached. 
He had only seen Chinese parades, 
with the great green dragon, and it 
had always frightened him ; but there 
was no dragon in this parade. There 
were soldiers, — oh, so many hundreds 
of them I — with their bright uniforms 
1 8o 


Ho Chin s Fourth of fuly 
glittering in the sun, and their spirited 
horses prancing and keeping time to 
the music of the many bands. Many 
of the horses became scared at the 
noise, and Ho Chin, being a boy, 
thought it great fun to see them 
stand on their hind legs and prance, 
and act as if they would run over 
everybody. He did not feel afraid, 
and he liked to hear the big drums; 
they sounded beautiful to him, al- 
most as beautiful as the Chinese 
« tom-toms.” There were so many 
fine things about that parade that 
little Ho did not realize until after 
it had passed that he was hungry. 
He mentioned the fact to Johnny, 
and, strange to say, Johnny was 
hungry too. They were a long 
distance from home ; what should 
they do ? 


Ljitth Almond Blossoms 
“ If I had any money left we could 
go into a restaurant and have our 
dinner,” said the wary Johnny. 

“Oh, could we?” said Ho. “Well, 
we will go then, for I have plenty 
of money.” 

Johnny did not need any urging, 
you may be sure, and many people 
in the restaurant were amused to see 
the two little friends seated at the 
table with their fire-crackers on a 
chair beside them. Still more 
amused was the waiter, who brought 
them such a mixture as he had never 
before served for lunch. It was 
dreadful ! but it did not seem so to 
the two hungry boys, who, with 
mouths full, were so interested in 
talking that they did not even see 
the waiter. Little Ho Chin paid 
the bill with a kingly air, and they 
182 


Ho Chin s Fourth of fuly 
strutted out to pop their crackers 
for the rest of the day. They were 
having a fine time, — but what of 
the little Chinese mother ? 

When her toilet was completed she 
inquired for her boy, as she knew he 
was to have a holiday to-day, and 
was told that he had breakfasted 
earlier than he had ever done before, 
and they had not seen him since. 
They supposed he had gone to her 
apartments. She had the whole house 
searched, and was frightened almost 
to death. She burned her incense 
before the god, and murmured : “Oh, 
good joss ! protect my boy, and bring 
him to me.” 

At that moment her boy had just 
blown olF his coat-tail with a bunch 
of fire-crackers, and it was lucky that 
he had not been blown to pieces. 

183 


Little Almond Blossoms 
The mother could only wait till the 
day wore on, as her husband was not 
there to advise her, and Chinese 
women are so helpless. 

After this day of delight the dark 
night fell, and not until then was the 
little Ho reminded that his mother 
would be worried, and he must go 
home. His fire-crackers were all 
gone, he was tired, and so covered 
with powder and dirt that one would 
never have recognized him as the 
elegantly dressed little boy who had 
left home in the early morning. 
“ But,” he reflected, « I have had the 
finest time of my life; I will never 
forget it.” 

It must be admitted, though, that 
his conscience hurt him very badly 
as he wended his way home. He 
wondered if his father could have 

1 84 


Ho Chin's Fourth of July 
come home unexpectedly. There 
was no way out of it; he must go 
and face it. He almost felt as if he 
would like to run away to some 
place where there were no fathers 
and mothers, and where it was always 
the Fourth of July all the year round. 

He entered the great iron door, 
and had reached the top of the 
marble stairway, his heart beating 
with fear. He almost wished now 
he had not gone. The silence was 
so intense that he could almost hear 
his heart beat — he feared the worst. 
But now he heard a rustle of silken 
garments, and there came through the 
portieres — his mother I 

With wide-open black eyes he 
gazed at her. Oh, what would she 
do ? what would she say ? — he stood 
trembling and speechless ; and she? — 

185 


Ljitth Almond Blossoms 
Why, she was just a mother, after all, 
and with one great sob she took him 
in her arms and showered kisses on 
his handsome but very dirty face. 
He could feel her tender heart beat- 
ing through the silken blouse, and 
she clasped him closer as she mur- 
mured: “ The good joss has brought 
him back to me — my brave and 
beautiful little Ho.” 

And he whispered, “Mother — 
forgive me! but it was all so lovely, 
and — I just love the Fourth of July 1 ” 
And she, being a mother, forgave 
him. 


i86 


THE LITTLE FISHER-MAIDEN 


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V 


THE LITTLE 
FISHER-MAIDEN 

L O LUEN was the little daughter 
of a poor Chinese fisherman, 
^ and lived in the Chinatown 
of Monterey, California. She was 
born in this beautiful country, and 
did not know anything about China, 
except what she had heard her par- 
ents say. But this country was good 
enough for her, she thought, with its 
endless skies of blue overhead, and 
the big noisy ocean dashing its white 
spray up on the silver sands right in 
front of the little hut she called 
home. 

It was a very poor place, and they 
were very poor people, but Lo Luen 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
did not know this, because it was all 
she had ever known, so it did not 
disturb her simple celestial mind in 
the least. Then she could not get 
lonely, for there was her small brother, 
Lo Duck, who was the cunningest, 
chubbiest little boy that she had ever 
seen. 

Mo chun was very busy always, in 
the little hut, as she was a cigarette- 
maker, and worked at this all the 
time she was not doing the cooking, 
and making the simple garments for 
the family. 

The father dearly loved his chil- 
dren, and often called Lo Luen his 
little fisher-maiden. This was be- 
cause she was such a help to him in 
his fishing. She and little Lo Duck 
would sit out on the ground in front 
of their home for hours at a time, 

190 


T'he Little Fisher- Maiden 
putting bait on the hooks ; and this 
was a great help, for it saved so much 
time. 

He would cut up a great deal of 
fish into small bits, and put it in a 
box by the children, and they would 
fasten it on to the hundreds of hooks 
on the lines, and then the big round 
baskets would be all ready for ho chun 
to cast the lines into the ocean, and 
draw out the beautiful fish. Lo Luen 
was very proud when she saw the 
fine fish in the boat every day, for 
she almost felt as if she herself had 
caught them, since she had put the 
bait on the hooks. One day she had 
been working so hard that her father 
looked at her, as she sat there in the 
sun with her sleeves rolled up, work- 
ing away as if her life depended upon 
it, and he said to her; “Lo Luen, 

191 


Ljittle Almond Blossoms 
how you likee go out in big boat with 
ho chun f ” 

« Oh ! ” she shouted, as she clapped 
her little brown hands, “I likee velly 
much ; I likee catch big fish to bling 
mo chunl' 

“ All light,” said her father. “We 
no takee hai tong (baby); he stay 
with mo chun., he too little.” 

Lo Duck objected to this ; he 
wanted to go too, but he would only 
be in the way, and then his mother 
would be worried if he went, so he 
was taken into the house, screaming 
vigorously. The timid mother felt 
rather afraid to trust her little daughter 
out on the great noisy ocean, whose 
waves came dashing upon the rocks 
with a boom like thunder; but the 
father said she was a big girl now, and 
it was time she learned something of 

192 


The Little Fisher-Maiden 
the sea. So, while he iitted up the 
boat and got the nets into it, mo chun 
was dressing the little girl in her 
warmest blouse, all heavily padded, 
and then got out a very thick silk 
hood, fastening it securely on her 
head, and last of all, she took from 
the padded mumboo (^tea-pot holder) 
a pot of boiling tea, and gave it to 
Lo Luen. 

^^Maskee-maskeey my samen jai" 
(never mind, my little boy), she said 
to the baby brother, “maybe you go 
next time.” 

Mo chun and the baby boy went 
with them as far as the boat, and 
Lo Luen jumped in gaily, and they 
were off. The water was smooth 
to-day, and everything would surely 
be well, thought the mother. She 
went in and placed a little bowl of 

193 




L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
steaming rice before the joss, so that 
he would protect her little girl from 
the wrath of the mighty ocean, and 
lighted the punks before him, so that 
the incense filled the little room. 

Meanwhile, the little fishing boat 
went dancing over the blue waves, 
as light as an egg-shell, and the little 
Chinese girl was happy. 

They kept near the shore at first, 
and when they passed the Del Monte 
hotel she saw hundreds of little Ameri- 
can children running on the beach. 
She loved to watch them, as they ran 
with bare feet, kicking up the white 
sand. Some of them were jumping 
rope with long strands of kelp ; 
some were hunting shells and bits of 
sea-moss ; some were running into 
the foamy surf, filling their bright tin 
pails with water, and then hurrying 
194 


The Tittle Fisher- Maiden 
from the big waves they would run 
back to pour the water into some little 
place in the sand, where they were 
building all sorts of wonderful things. 

Some of the little girls had the 
most wonderful dolls in their arms, 
— or at least they seemed wonderful 
to a little girl who had no doll, ex- 
cept just the hard kelp balls which 
she had dressed up and used for dolls, 
as she did not like to ask for one, 
for fear it would cost too much. 

They left the shore now, and went 
farther out, where the ocean was 
deep and the waves were rough. 
The cool salt spray dashed in her 
face, and her long queue hung over 
the side of the boat and dipped into 
the water. Ho chun told her to take 
it in, or a big fish might come along 
and pull her in. 


19s 


Liittle Almond Blossoms 
Oh, what fun it was to see him 
cast in the net, and pull out so many 
big fish ! but she was a little afraid 
of them, they were so squirmy and 
floppy. She cuddled up in one end 
of the boat, so they could not jump 
on her, but ho chun fixed a plank in 
front of her, so she was not afraid. 

It was her turn now, and so the 
father produced a stout little fishing 
pole and tackle, and she tried her 
luck at fishing in the big ocean. 
Soon she felt a strong tug at her 
line, — so strong that it almost pulled 
her in. She tugged away, though, 
till she almost fell out of the boat, 
but it was too big for her ; she could 
not manage it without the help of 
ho chun. 

« Maskee I ” he said, and took hold 
of the pole. She still kept her small 
196 


'Th^ Little Fisher-Maiden 
hands on it, though, so she could say 
that she caught it. Pretty soon 
there came up out of the water a big, 
big salmon, all gold and sparkling in 
the sunlight. She just squealed with 
delight, and her father said : « Heap 
good girl ; catchee velly big fish.” 

They were so interested in the 
work and were having such fine luck 
that they did not realize how late it 
was getting. Lo Luen was enjoying 
it so, that her father could not bear 
to stop her pleasure. 

The darkness fell upon the waters 
now, and the sea moaned sadly. 
The waives grew rougher, and the air 
colder. It was not pretty when the 
sun was not shining on it. 

“ The wateh too black now j I no 
likee ; I want see mo chunF falter- 
ingly said the little one. 


197 


hittle Almond Blossoms 

They could see the dim outlines 
of great ships with their lights send- 
ing long, narrow rays across the dark 
of the ocean. They looked like 
stars, and made one feel as if they 
were not alone on the vast waters. 

“ We go home now — see mo chun ; 
get nice hot tea^' said the father, in 
a kind tone, as he clasped the little 
figure closely to him, and started to 
row home. Of course Lo Luen did 
not really feel afraid, with her father 
so near, and said : “I no ’flaid ; but 
I likee go fast. I cold and hungly 
— that ’s all.” 

Her father smiled in the dark as 
he murmured consolingly, “ Yes — 
that ’s all.” 

Lo Luen was thinking, as she 
crouched there, nestled up against 
ho chun^ “ How pletty those dolls 


The Tittle Fisher-Maiden 
were ; I be so happy if I had one — 
just one, foh my velly own.” 

The moonbeams lit up the water 
in a silvery path, and as Lo Luen 
looked at this path and thought how 
very beautiful it was, she noticed 
something floating in the light and 
bounding up and down on the waves. 
It looked like a big lump of seaweed. 

“What is that, ho chunf” she said, 
with childish curiosity. 

“ Oh, I think just a piece of wood 
or a bunch of kelp ; you likee get it, 
little girl ? ” 

“ Yes, we see what it is,” she said. 

It seemed determined to get away 
from them, for almost every time 
they were near enough to touch it 
a big wave would come, and take 
it away in the dark, and it would be 
lost to sight for a while. But soon 

199 


Little Almond Blossoms 
the light revealed it right within 
reach. Ho chun put out his hand and 
grasped it, and putting it on the fish 
said : “ We see when we get home,” 
and rowed away as fast as he could. 

At home the little mother was 
getting very uneasy. What could 
keep them so long ? « Cheung kan ye 
lok” (it is getting very late), she said. 
Oh, why had she ever let her go ? 
To think of her pao chu (precious 
pearl) being out on the big ocean 
at night. She imagined all sorts of 
horrible things, and blamed herself. 
Perhaps she had not set enough food 
before the joss, nor burned enough 
incense. She had the tea all nice 
and hot, and knew if nothing had 
happened they would be very hungry 
when they reached home. So she 
lighted more punks before the god, 

200 


'The Tittle Fisher-Maiden 

and had already sung the baby’s little 
Chinese song ; 

“ My little baby — little boy blue — 

Is as sweet as sugar and cinnamon too ; 

Is n’t this precious darling of ours 
Sweeter than dates and cinnamon 
flowers?” 

He now lay asleep on his couch, 
and she was all alone. 

After what seemed an age to her 
she heard the sound of a boat being 
dragged upon the sand, and ran to 
the door of the hut, and stood 
there looking out upon the beach. 
“ Lo Luen ! Lo Luen ! ” she called 
out in the darkness, “ Tap loi le I ” 
(^come in ! ) and there was a rush of 
sandalled feet, and in just a moment 
two cold brown hands were clasped 
in her warm ones, and a dear little 
cold nose was pressed against her 


201 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
face. “ Lo Luen, precious pearl, you 
have come back, and the joss is 
good,” she said. 

After the fish were put away ho chun 
came in, and everything was peace 
and happiness again. The warm 
room seemed more welcome than ever 
before, for they were benumbed with 
cold, and oh, so hungry! Mo chun^ 
with all gentleness and love, soon 
had them seated, with bowls of steam- 
ing rice before them, and fried fish, 
and other good things which she had 
prepared in their absence. 

After supper Lo Luen happened 
to think of the mysterious bundle of 
seaweed, and ho chun went out and 
brought it in. It was very wet, and 
smelled of the sea. 

“ I guess it’s only a piece of wood 
with kelp on,” said mo chun ; but 

202 


T^he Little Fisher- Maiden 
anyway, they tore the wet seaweed 
from it, while Lo Luen looked eagerly 
on. What could that be sticking 
out of the weed ? It looked — it 
actually looked like a doll’s foot. It 
couldn’t be, and yet — With a great 
cry of joy Lo Luen saw her father 
uncover the treasure. All the pent- 
up feeling of starved child-life was in 
her cry, for there, disclosed to her 
dancing, oblique eyes was a doll — a 
real one, and a very beautiful one. 
She could not believe it at first, but 
rubbed her eyes. They were all 
astonished, for this was indeed an 
event in their barren lives. 

The doll opened her eyes as if she 
were alive, and seemed to gaze at 
them in gratitude for being saved 
from the cruel water. Lo Luen 
hugged it to her wildly beating heart 

203 


Little Almond Blossoms 
and her face beamed with a rapturous 
joy the like of which had never before 
come to her. She was such a little 
mother, always, and now she would 
have something upon which to shower 
all the wealth of love repressed in 
her warm little heart. 

They did not attempt to solve the 
mystery. To them it was enough 
that this beautiful toy had been sent 
to them from the waters. It may have 
been that the doll was lost in some 
shipwreck, or that some of the little 
maidens at Del Monte had left it 
too near the water, and the waves had 
carried it away. It belonged now 
to the little Chinese fisher-maiden, 
and that was enough to know. 

She slept that night with the pre- 
cious doll in her arms — dear little 
Lo Luen ! 

204 


THE FINDING OF SING HO 



THE 

FINDING OF SING HO 



ITTLE SING HO did not 


look very happy as he stood 


out on the pavement in front 
of his home. He had intended tak- 
ing a beautiful walk, and had his 
umbrella already over his head, pre- 
paratory to starting, when his mo chun 
appeared on the scene, and said : 

Where you going, hai tong (baby) ? ” 
Now Sing Ho did not like to be 
called hai tongy for he felt that he 
was almost a big man, so he replied : 
“ I going foh walk, down stleet.” 

“No, no! you too small; you 
stay home now, and maybe bimeby 
mo chun take you,” she said ; and 


207 


luittle Almond Blossoms 
then she hurried into the house to 
see if the rice was burning. When 
she had disappeared he stood there 
for a moment, with the gay umbrella 
over him, looking very much dis- 
pleased. 

He was only four years old, it is 
true, but do you know, he often 
thought he knew more than his dear 
mother. Now Sing Ho was the 
only child, and had always been 
loved and petted, and had never 
been denied anything in his short 
little life. He remembered many 
walks he had taken with his father 
and mother, and he had always had 
such a good time that he thought 
it would be still better if he could 
take a walk all alone. He had just 
seen two of his little friends, with 
their queer little Chinese caps on, 

208 






Tzvo of his little friendsy with their queer little Chinese caps on 



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'The Finding of Sing Ho 
and they had said they were going 
for a walk, so why not he ? 

He knew his mo chun was very 
busy, embroidering a blouse for him 
to wear on the New Year, and the 
San Nin (^New Year) would be here 
to-morrow. So he thought in his 
baby way that he would take ad- 
vantage of his mama, and only walk 
down the street a little way, and she 
would never know. He was too 
small to realize that it is a very 
difficult matter for even grown-up 
persons to find their way through 
the narrow and tortuous streets of 
the big Chinatown of San Francisco. 
He could not be expected to know 
these things. 

So he wandered on, and soon 
forgot his fear in watching the beau- 
tiful things all around him. China- 

209 


14 


hittle Almond Blossoms 


town was in holiday attire, and as 
far as the eye could reach the nar- 
row streets were a perfect mass of 
bloom and beauty. On both sides 
of the streets were ranged great stands 
of the China lily and fragrant almond 
blossom, with delicate shades of pink. 

Someway he found it very hard 
to get past the store windows, as 
they seemed to have so many things 
in them that boys like, and he for- 
got everything in the delight of gaz- 
ing at them, and pressed his eager 
little round face right up against the 
glass in some places, and poked his 
cunning little nose into a fragrant 
bunch of lilies, to inhale their sweet- 
ness. Mo chun had some lilies at 
home, but not so many nor such 
beautiful ones as these. At every 
door were strange Chinese letters, 


2 10 


"The Finding of Sing Ho 
and he looked longingly at great 
bunches of peacock feathers with 
their many eyes, and the gaudy 
rosettes of red paper which are every- 
where on the New Year. Almost 
every one that he met carried a 
brown paper parcel of pork and an 
onion, or some kind of funny look- 
ing lettuce, for the Chinese love pork 
better than the Americans love 
turkey, and it had to be a very poor 
person indeed who did not feel able 
to buy himself a piece of pork on 
the New Year. 

Chinamen of all kinds were throng- 
ing the streets, and so many children, 
too, were toddling along with some 
older person, that no one noticed 
that the little boy was alone. 

He believed he had only to walk 
back just a little way and he would 

2 I I 


Little Almond Blossoms 
be at home. He did not know that 
he had made several turns, and that 
it would be impossible for him to 
find his way back alone. 

Naughty little Sing Ho ! There 
were so many American people, too, 
in the shops, buying curious and 
beautiful things. On both sides of 
the street were rows of great dragon 
lanterns. He looked at them in 
childish wonder, longing for the great 
swaying globes. Suddenly he felt 
something hit him on the arm, and, 
looking upward, saw far above him 
some beautiful Chinese ladies on a 
balcony ; and what is this that they 
have thrown down ? Something very 
near to the heart of a boy, — a bright 
bunch of fire-crackers ! 

He was smiling now without any 
difficulty. Just then he heard a 
2 12 


‘The Finding of Sing Ho 
woman’s shrill, high-pitched voice 
speaking to him from the latticed 
window above him, saying : “ Little 
boy ! little boy ! where is your 
mo chun f ” 

“ She at home,” he replied, and 
then hesitatingly faltered, ‘•^Ngo pa 
ngo tong cho lu lok ” (^I am afraid I 
have lost my way). 

He was crying now, and presented 
a very mournful appearance to the 
gaze of the passer-by. These ladies 
above him were those of the tiny 
“golden lily feet,” and very wealthy 
and aristocratic, so they could not 
leave their rooms and come down 
to him, as that was not their cus- 
tom. If it had been the next 
day they could .have done so, for on 
every day of the week of San 
Nin they were permitted to leave 

213 


Little Almond Blossoms 
their homes and go anywhere they 
pleased. 

“ Ni kiu mat meng a f ” (^what is 
your name ?) they asked. 

“My name? Sing Ho,” he cried. 

“You come up,” they called 
down to him, pointing meanwhile to 
a dark and narrow stairway which 
led up from the street. 

“ It so dark — Sing Ho ’flaid to 
go alone — I want mo chun — boo, 
hoo, ” he wailed, in a pitiful little 
voice. 

“ But you must come. We find 
mo chun ; we give you heap plenty 
fiah-clackeh (fire-cracker), plenty nice 
little cake ; come on ! ” 

Baby though he was, he remem- 
bered that his mother had always 
warned him against strangers, and 
told him never to allow any one to 

214 


The Finding of Sing Ho 
persuade him to go with them. But 
finally he decided that this was very 
different, and that anything would be 
better than being lost on the street. 

“ All light ! ” he sobbed, and started 
in great fear up the narrow stair- 
way. Ugh! how dark it was! and 
he trembled, as his little sandalled 
feet crept hesitatingly on. When he 
at last reached the end of the stair- 
way he found himself in a dark and 
narrow hall thick with the fumes of 
opium. 

Where were the beautiful ladies ? 
— and the little cakes? Nothing 
was to be seen but the gaunt figures 
of Chinamen gliding stealthily to 
and fro in the narrow hall. There 
were many doors on either side the 
hallway, and in each door was a 
small, square lattice into which the 

215 


L.ittle Almond Blossoms 
men would speak some queer words 
in Chinese, when the door would 
be cautiously opened, and he would 
enter. When the doors opened little 
Sing Ho caught glimpses of many 
Chinamen with cards in their hands, 
seated around some tables and call- 
ing out in a loud voice strange 
Chinese words which he could not 
understand. In some of the rooms 
he could see men reclining on bam- 
boo couches and smoking opium. 
Oh, if his mother could see him now, 
as he stood there alone, and trem- 
bling in the half-darkness ! 

Just then his dear and beautiful 
little mother had put the last stitch 
in the blouse she was embroidering, 
and proudly held it out to the ad- 
miring gaze of her sister, who lived 
with her. 

216 


T'he Finding of Sing Ho 

“He is playing outside ; I go get 
him,” she said; and with a smile on 
her lips she opened the door and 
called him. 

“ Sing Ho ! Sing Ho ! ” 

No reply. 

“Why, that is strange,” she thought. 
“ Maybe he come in the house and 
go to sleep.” 

She hurried into the small bed- 
room and looked eagerly at the 
couch. No, there was no samen jai 
there. She was trembling now, with 
a nameless fear. Her pretty face 
grew pale, and the little brown ner- 
vous fingers were like ice. 

Her boy — her baby — the hon- 
ored one of the house of Sing, whose 
birth had crowned her with glory. 
Why, he must be there ; he could 
not be gone from her — and yet — 

217 


L,itth Almond Blossoms 
where was he ? Her little tender 
baby boy who had never been from 
her side ; the little brown face, 
naughty, sometimes, it is true, but 
always, to the mother, the dearest 
of things in all the big world. 

Without stopping to change her 
house-robes she rushed down the 
street, and to the store of her hus- 
band, Sing Kee. He was just going 
down into the cellar after some tubs 
of preserved ginger, when he was 
startled by seeing his wife appear be- 
fore him. The cat, that had always 
been loved and petted by little Sing 
Ho, lay sunning itself at the entrance, 
and Sing Kee looked up with a very 
serious face, for he knew that no 
little matter would bring his wife 
thus unexpectedly to his place of 
business. She surely would not be 

218 


The Finding of Sing Ho 
going on the street the day before 
the New Year. 

“ What ’s the matter ? ” he asked 
in Chinese. She could hardly reply 
for the wild throbbing of her tender 
heart. 

“ My baby — my precious pearl 
— he lost ! I no can find him ; he 
gone — I no know where.” 

And then she hid her face in her 
trembling brown hands and wept in 
the wildest grief. The poor father 
was terrified, for he knew what a 
big place Chinatown was, and how 
easily a little child could be lost or 
stolen, or hidden away, and no one 
would ever see it again. He knew 
the underground passages and dark 
opium dens which were thick around 
them, and his heart almost broke as 
he listened to her story. She had 

219 


Liittle Almond Blossoms 
little to tell. It was only that he 
had wanted to take a walk, and 
she had told him he must not go, 
believing that he would obey her, 
as he always had. 

They started through the streets 
now, in search of him, their eager 
eyes gazing in all directions. Two 
of his little playmates stood on a 
doorstep, and they inquired of them 
if they had seen him. Yes, they 
had seen him early in the afternoon. 
He had passed them, carrying his 
umbrella. 

The distracted parents searched 
until the dark night fell and the 
great dragon lanterns were lighted 
in the balcony of the joss house 
near by. 

The joss house! — there was an 
idea I Why had they not thought 


220 


The Finding of Sing Ho 
of it before ? They would go there 
at once, and supplicate the god, that 
they might find their baby. They 
ascended the long flights of stairs 
until they were right in the room 
with the joss. There were little 
bowls of ashes full of punks, to be 
burned before the god, and the odor of 
incense filled the air as they lighted 
them and waved them before the joss. 

Sing Kee threw many of the little 
carved prayer-sticks into the air, too, 
and when they fell, looked at them 
eagerly, evidently seeing something 
about them which pleased him, for 
he smiled, and said to the timid little 
mother : « They say we find him to- 
mollow — we go home now.” 

They went home, but it was not 
home to-night without the dear little 
round, saucy face on the hard pillow, 

22 1 


hittle Almond Blossoms 
the patter of the little sandalled feet 
on the floors, and the click of the 
little chopsticks. There was no sleep 
for them that night. They had told 
the Chinatown police of their loss, 
but no clue had yet been reported. 

Early next morning they started 
out again, on their weary search. It 
was the flrst day of the New Year, 
but they had not dreamed they 
would celebrate it in this way, as 
with heavy hearts they picked their 
way through the narrow streets, 
glancing in every direction, and up 
at the flower-laden balconies, with 
the candles burning for the joss. 

Meanwhile the little Sing Ho had 
stood in fright, and looked around 
him, in the darkness of the hallway. 
Where were the pretty ladies ? Had 
he only dreamed he saw them ? 

222 


The Finding of Sing Ho 

Suddenly he heard a high-pitched 
but sweet voice somewhere above 
him, saying : “ Where are you, little 
boy ? Come up the other stairs.” 

The other stairs ? where were they? 
He had supposed that he was at the 
top now, but on looking around he 
saw still another flight of steps, and 
gladly running to them he started on 
upward again, as fast as his tired little 
legs could carry him. When he 
reached the top, some one opened 
a door, cautiously, and calling out 
“ Yap loi le I" (^Come in reached out 
a beautiful jewelled hand, and drew 
him softly within the room. 

Oh, how lovely it all was ! There 
was a chatter of women’s voices in 
high-bred, nasal tones, and the room 
was warm, and smelled of incense. 
One very pretty little lady drew him 

223 


'Little Almond Blossoms 
to her as tenderly as a mother, and 
said to him in the sweetest tones : 
“ Do not fear, little one ! I will find 
mo chun for you. Where do you 
live ? ” 

“ Why, I live with mo chun and 
ho chunh'' he said. 

“ Where do they live ? ” she in- 
quired. 

« I no know — they live at my 
home — and mo chun she make me 
velly pletty blouse.” 

Poor little boy ! so he could not 
give them any clue, then, by which 
they might find his parents. Well, 
they would have to wait, and do the 
best they could under the circum- 
stances. They tried to make him for- 
get his sorrow for a while, and showed 
him many wonderful things. In the 
centre of the room was a table, all 

224 


The Finding of Sing Ho 
arranged for the New Year, and on 
it were great bowls of China lilies, 
and Chinese lemons and oranges. 
Then there was a polished tray, hold- 
ing all kinds of candy and nuts. 
The windows were a perfect mass of 
lily and almond blossom, and pea- 
cock’s feathers were everywhere staring, 
with their green eyes. Outside was 
the balcony, from which the ladies 
had first spoken to the little lost 
boy, and on it were many big dragon 
lanterns, whose soft light fell upon 
the flowers, and made it look like 
fairyland. 

They served tea out on the bal- 
cony, and gave Sing Ho the dearest 
little cup, and cakes, and plenty of 
watermelon seed to nibble at, and 
everything that he loved, except — 
his dear mama. When the breezes 
’5 225 


Little Almond Blossoms 
began to blow too roughly and 
sway the dragon lanterns, they de- 
cided to put the little stranger to 
bed. This was the worst moment of 
all. How could he go to bed with- 
out his dear mother’s kiss ? Oh, 
how his lonely little heart ached and 
ached, and he just had to let the big 
tears come, and roll down his cheeks. 
He did n’t want to be rude to the 
pretty lady, but — there was no one 
like his mo chun. Finally he did go 
to sleep, though, and when he awoke 
it was the first day of the New Year. 

He was waited upon like a little 
king, with a big bowl of rice and ivory 
chopsticks, nice hot tea, and little 
almond cakes — everything that one 
could wish, but — it did not take the 
ache out of his heart. After break- 
fast he and the beautiful lady went 

226 





His o%v7i beautiful mo chun 


I 



"The Finding of Sing Ho 
out on the balcony, and sat there for 
hours, looking down at the crowd. 

The streets were thronged now, 
and there was an incessant noise of 
fireworks. The New Year had be- 
gun in earnest. The lady was going 
to take him for a walk that after- 
noon, but they would sit on the 
balcony now, and watch the crowds 
beneath. There were so many chil- 
dren, and all dressed in their richest 
robes. It made the heart of little 
Sing Ho ache to see the richly em- 
broidered blouses, so like his own, 
and if he had not been naughty and 
run away he might even now be 
walking along down there, wearing 
the blouse, and holding the hand of 
his own beautiful mo chun. 

His own beautiful mo chun f — 
Why — why — he rubbed his eyes 

227 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
and stared down into the street. 
Was he dreaming ? 

Mo chun I Mo chunt" he 
screamed, in his shrill baby voice ; 
for down on the street beneath the 
balcony hurried a pale but pretty 
little Chinese woman, her searching 
gaze going in every • direction. 

« It is my mo chun 1 Stop ! ” he 
cried ; and the Chinese lady on the 
balcony threw down her painted fan 
and hit the little mother of Sing Ho 
right on the head. Glancing upward 
in surprise, the mother looked straight 
into the eyes of her precious pearl, her 
little Sing Ho! Oh, the rapture and 
the mother-love that shone in her 
face now ! How the light came 
back into her eyes, and the red lips 
smiled, and the red rose bloomed in 
her cheeks as she reached out her 
228 


The Finding of Sing Ho 

arms to the balcony and sobbed : 
“ Hai tong I hai tong (^baby! baby) ! ” 

The father, who had gone on in 
front of her, Chinese fashion, was 
called back, and together they as- 
cended the same steps which had so 
frightened their baby boy. As it was 
the New Year week it, was perfectly 
proper that they should both enter 
the rooms of the Chinese ladies, and 
what a happy time that was ! 

Every one soon became acquainted, 
through the medium of a little child, 
and very soon they were all having a 
New Year’s cup of tea and other 
dainties, and were laughing and chat- 
ting away as if they had known each 
other always. 

When they went home Sing Ho 
was given so many beautiful things 
that his little arms were full, and ho 

229 


L.ittle Almond Blossoms 
chun said as they entered the door 
of their own home : « I knew we 
would find him, because the prayer- 
sticks said so.” 


230 


THE SLAFE-GIRL'S THANKSGIVING 



THE SLJFE- 

GIRL’S rHANKSGIVING 

I T was Thanksgiving Eve j but of 
this fact Pao Chu was entirely 
ignorant, for how could she 
know anything of Thanksgiving, or 
of giving thanks, when she was only 
a little Chinese slave, and had never 
been out of her prison in China- 
town ? 

Quong Lee, the president of the 
Quong Duck Tong, a highbinder so- 
ciety, was her owner, and she sup- 
posed that everybody was like him, 
and that there was no goodness or 
happiness in all the world. All the 
world to Pao Chu meant just the 
limited area she could see from her 

233 


Liittle Almond Blossoms 
iron-barred window — about one foot 
square. And yes — on one occasion 
the old hag who guarded her had 
fallen into a deep opium sleep, and 
Pao Chu had slipped out on the tiny, 
flower-decked balcony, and, leaning 
far over, had gazed with pathetic 
eagerness down at the swarming 
crowd of Chinamen below. Her 
name meant « precious pearl,” but 
she could see no reason for such a 
meaning, unless — yes, it must be 
beeause she would bring a big price 
when she was sold again. She had 
overheard Quong Lee talking to the 
old hag Suey Gong one night when 
they had thought she slept, and he 
had said then that one of his high- 
binder friends had offered him three 
thousand dollars for Pao Chu, but he 
was not going to sell her yet, as he 


The Slave-Girl' s Thanksgiving 
thought he could get five thousand 
soon, for she was growing more beau- 
tiful every day. But the poor little 
pearl paid dearly for that one little 
tantalizing glimpse of the Chinese 
world. It happened to be the night of 
a Chinese celebration, — the “Moon 
Festival,” — and the light from the 
great dragon lanterns swaying above 
her shone full upon her pretty face. 
Many glanced upward, and were 
startled by the lovely apparition. 
Her face was full of Oriental witch- 
ery, and the tender young soul of 
her shone out in the great velvet 
eyes, and the pretty mouth glowed 
like a scarlet rose, while her hair 
shone in the mystical fairy light of 
the lanterns. 

But alas for Pao Chu, the pure 
pearl in the mire ! As she gazed 

235 


Little Almond Blossoms 
down at the moving merry crowd, 
her whole soul in her eyes, and living 
a whole life in that one moment, 
two passed beneath the balcony — 
a fateful two ; one the highbinder 
friend of her master, who saw her 
face, and forever after wished to gain 
possession of it for his own, and 
the other her master, Quong Lee, the 
great and high — Quong Lee, the 
demon and arch-fiend. At first he 
was amazed at the transformation 
that happiness had made in her face, 
and then — with one bound he was 
up the stairs. The poor little slave- 
girl stood transfixed with horror. 
She called hysterically on the little 
squatty god in the corner, but the god 
stolidly refused to listen, — indeed 
he always had refused. She could 
not recall a time when he had ever 
236 


"The Slave-Girl' s Thanksgiving 
listened ; and now her master strode 
furiously into the room, and grasped 
the poor trembling child with his 
great murderous hands. He shook 
her violently, and hurled at her all 
the Chinese profanity at his com- 
mand. He beat her so that she 
almost died, and she would so much 
rather have really died, but he would 
not kill the goose that laid the golden 
eggs. Oh, no ! this little bit of 
stubborn womanhood would fill his 
purse with gold some day, and so — 
he must not go too far. He must not 
cripple or maim her or she would be 
a drug on the market. He would 
simply beat her and starve her for 
a few days, and bestow upon her 
every vile epithet in his category. 

He then dragged the old Suey 
Gong from her hard couch and gave 

237 


Little Almond Blossoms 
her a beating. Her brain was so 
deadened with opium that she could 
not understand why she was being 
beaten ; but then it did not matter 
why, she had often been beaten, and 
there must be a reason for it. She 
would have liked to know, of course, 
but then it was a woman’s place to 
be beaten, as th.e yen, or female prin- 
ciple, was the source of all evil, and 
must be chastised whenever the male 
principle should see fit to do so. 

From that time on there was no 
more freedom for the little slave. 
No fresh air save that which came 
through the tiny lattice ; no glimpse 
of any human being save the old 
hag and the highbinder. Nothing 
to do but just to sit and make 
cigarettes all day, for her master to 
sell, and to talk to the old Suey Gong. 
238 


"The Slave-GirTs Thanksgiving 

It was two years since her fateful 
visit to the balcony, and the girl was 
talking in her innocent way to the 
old woman. 

“ Suey Gong ! do you know when 
I be sold ? Will the new master 
beat me evly day ? What kind of a 
life will it be ? Tell me ! ” These, 
and many other questions, but to 
none of them could the old woman 
reply. If she had known the answers 
she would not have dared. 

« I no sabe (^understand) anything,” 
she said, “ I only know China girl 
neveh be happy. Bad spirits allee 
timee stay with her. She must allee 
timee play (pray) to the gods ; she 
must work for man, he must beat 
her; she neveh be flee (free). She 
have heap plenty bad time here; I 
no know why; I no can tell.” 


239 


Little Almond Blossoms 
« But why should I play to god 
when he neveh hear? Listen! 
listen I — Suey Gong I I no play to 
Chinese god any more. Afteh this 
I play — I play to — ’Melican god. 
Then we see ! ” 

The old woman held up her hands 
in horror. The American spirit had 
surely gotten into this bit of Chinese 
girlhood. O that she had never told 
this girl about the American god I 
It was too late now, though, for Pao 
Chu with clasped hands was saying : 

“Oh, heap good ’Melican joss! 
Listen to a poor slave-girl’s prayer ! 
My master he beat me evly day ; 
I no can tell why. I tly to be 
good, but he allee time beat me and 
starve me ; I so unhappy. Oh, good 
’Melican god, if you can hear me, 
set me flee (free) ! ” 

240 


The Slave-Girl' s Thanksgiving 
This innocent petition was enough 
to have brought tears to the eyes of 
even the little clay god, but he was 
not moved. Old Suey Gong was so 
terrified for fear the girl’s prayer 
would bring down the whole horde 
of evil spirits upon them that she in 
feverish haste set to work to light 
fresh incense sticks before the joss, 
and to set fresh bowls of food and 
tea before him. All this happened 
on Thanksgiving Eve, though there 
was nothing at all in the slave-girl’s 
life for which she could be thank- 
ful, even if she had known it was 
Thanksgiving. 

But wait 1 — there was something, 
for old Suey Gong was telling her 
that the master had received an im- 
portant telegram from some member 
of the Quong Duck Tong, which 

241 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
had called him out of the city, and 
he would not be able to return for 
two whole days, — two days without 
being beaten ! Perhaps already the 
’Meliean god had heard. If she 
could only gain the consent of the 
old woman she might once more 
venture on the forbidden balcony. 
The fates were kind and the opium 
goddess filled the old woman’s brain 
with dreams, and held down her 
eyelids. She slept, but the little girl 
did not. Garbed in pale lavender 
silk, she stole noiselessly out on the 
forbidden baleony. Her slim brown 
fingers lovingly caressed the Chinese 
lilies wrapped in red paper to seare 
away the bad spirits. Just now the 
bad spirits were not on duty, luckily 
for the little Chinese maiden. The 
tang of the sea air was so refreshing 
242 


"The Slave- Girl's Thanksgiving 
to her starved senses. She could 
look down to-night without fear, for 
her master would not come to-night, 
and in a childish, unformed way she 
breathed a blessing on the unknown 
highbinder who had sent the message, 
and although she did not know it 
was Thanksgiving Eve, a prayer of 
thanks to the unknown, intangible 
power who had given her this mo- 
ment’s freedom went up from her 
innocent heart. 

Everywhere down the streets of 
« Little China ” the big lanterns 
glowed and swung in the fresh night 
air. A bell pealed out on the silence, 
and seemed to speak of peace, and 
of something different from the life 
she knew. 

Suddenly her eye fell upon some 
one who did not wear the accustomed 


243 


L,ittle Almond Blossoms 
queue and blouse, — a big, strong 
American man with a kind face 
stood looking up at her. He wore 
a blue suit and brass buttons, and on 
his coat gleamed a great shining star. 
While he gazed upward at the girl a 
carriage rattled over the cobble-stones 
and stopped right under the balcony. 

And now the big man was saying 
— could it be that he was speaking 
to her? — “ Hello, little one! Would 
you like to celebrate Che San 
Yet?” She knew that meant thanks- 
giving, but the Chinese Thanksgiving 
did not come until February, and she 
could not imagine what he meant. 

He resumed : « Come with me, 
you poor little slave, and I will take 
you to a good, kind home, where 
they will never beat you, and you 
will be free.” 

244 


The Slave-GirTs Thanksgiving 

Free ? She could not take in the 
meaning of the word. She could 
not even dream what it must be to 
be free. « Oh, no ! I velly much 
’flaid bad spirit catch me; I no can 
come ; you down so low, and I up 
so high.” 

But just then the carriage door 
opened, and a woman’s sweet face 
looked out, and a woman held out 
motherly arms of love toward the 
high balcony and its lonely occupant. 

And old Suey Gong still slept. 

A sweet voice called up : « Come 
and live with me, dear; I will always 
be kind.” 

Pao Chu’s eyes filled with tears. 
It was the first time in all her life 
that any one had ever spoken a kind 
word to her. Before she could reply, 
the big policeman, who had some 

245 


hittle Almond Blossoms 
way slipped in through the rear, had 
taken her trembling little form in 
his strong arms, and hurrying down, 
placed her in the carriage, where she 
was clasped in the tender arms of 
Miss Cameron, Superintendent of the 
Chinese Rescue Mission. 

She could not understand yet that 
she was free ; but when she awoke 
on Thanksgiving morning and saw 
all the happy Chinese girl faces 
around her, and at the bountiful 
Thanksgiving table was made to un- 
derstand the reason of it all, she then 
realized the true meaning of Thanks- 
giving, and said : “ It would neveh 
have happened if I had not played 
to the good ’Melican God.” 


246 






Mabel Fuller Blodgetf s New Book of Fairy Tales 


THE GIANT’S RUBY 

AND OTHER FAIRY TALES 



The fairies, elves, giants, and dwarfs which flit through the pages of 
this book, and the account of the wonderful transformations which take 
place, will delight young readers. — The Outlook , New York. 

A new, fresh, interesting fairy tale is a very difficult thing to invent 
in these latter days, and Mrs. Mabel Fuller Blodgett deserves the lasting 
gratitude of all worldly wise boys and girls, for she has invented ten new 
fairy tales, all of them fresh and interesting. — Churchman y New York. 

Literary qualities most desirable in this class of fiction are evident in 
Mrs. Blodgett’s volume of highly characteristic tales. The enchanting 
and enchanted folk rally to do her bidding, and her wand will bring 
imaginative youngsters to the fairy-land .they love so well. — Boston 
Advertiser, 

The full-page and other illustrations from drawings by Katharine Pyle 
add gready to the interest of this charming book, which is quite as alluring 
in its fanciful way as any of the adventures of the good Haroun Alraschid. 
— Boston Beacon, 

THE GIANT’S RUBY, AND OTHER FAIRY TALES. By MABEL 
FULLER BLODGETT, author of “ At the Queen’s Mercy,” “ In 
Poppy Land,” etc. Illustrated by Katharine Pyle. lamo. Deco- 
rated cloth, $1.50. 


LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, Publishers 

254 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 


JANE AND JOHN 

THEIR PLAYS, PARTIES, AND PICNICS 


By ELIZABETH POLHEMUS 

With six full-page illustrations in color and cuts 
in the text by CHARLES HEIL. lamo. $1.50 



** A good, big, thick book, 
where, from cover to cover, 
the doings of these two ju- 
veniles and their interesting 
dolls, 'Polly Wog’ and ‘Peter 
Post,* have been duly chron- 
icled for the delectation of 
the book’s small readers,” 
says the Brooklyn Eagle of 
Mrs. Polhemus* out-of-door 
story. “ ‘Jane * and ‘John* 
do not seem like story-book 
children at all, and are such natural, 
human, funny little things that their au- 
thor must have known them in real life, 
or others just like them,** according to 
the Christian Register, Boston. “The 
print is large, the illustrations are many 
and good, and the work is in closest 
sympathy with childhood and admirably 
entertaining and instructive,** says the 
Christian Endeavor World, “The au- 
thor teaches, in a pleasant manner, many 
lessons about animal life,** adds The 
Bookman. 


LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, Publishers 

254 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 



ELIZABETH’S CHAEM-STMNG 

By CORA B. FORBES 

Illustrated from Gems and Photographs 
12mo, Decorated cloth, $1.50 


The Outlook (N. Y.) describes 
the unique book as follows : 

^^Elizabeth’s charm-string is a 
gift collection of gold and silver 
charms brought from abroad by 
a favorite aunt, who, on their 
bestowal, relates to the little girl 
and her friends the Old World 
legends connected with each.” 

The Christian Register (Boston) 
says : There could hardly be a 
prettier way of narrating the 
legends of the Middle Ages than 
by connecting each with the 
emblem significant of it.” 

^^It is a book of delightful 
entertainment and helpful in- 
struction, bringing the youthful 
reader into touch with some of 
the most famous legends in the world, especially those that have 
inspired the greatest artists,” to quote the Philadelphia Press. 

W’illiam Schuyler, assistant principal of the St. Louis (Mo.) High 
School says : It is a delight in its simple, unaffected but effective 
narration, in the wise choice of the legends and the exquisiteness 
and appropriateness of the illustrations.” 

The story of the Lion of St. Mark’s,” of the Doge and the 
Fisherman,” St. George and the Dragon,” the Imp of Lincoln,” 
are included in legends given. 



LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, Publishers 

TWO FIFTY-FOUR WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON 


KOBIN HOOD: HIS BOOK 

By EVA MARCH TAPPAN 

Author of “ Old Ballads in Prose,” “ In the Days of Alfred the Great,” etc. 


WITH OUTLINE ILLUSTRATIONS AND SIX FULL-PAGE 
PICTURES IN COLOR BY CHARLOTTE HARDING 
12mo, Decorated cloth, $1.50 


E va march TAPPAN has gathered from old poems and old 
English folk-stories the legends concerning Robin Hood and 
his merry men of Sherwood Forest, and has retold them in a 
fresh and delightful way, making Robin Hood more fascinating and 



picturesque than ever. The writer has a keen sense of humor, the 
legends are lighted up by it, and her style is admirably suited for a 
quaint and enjoyable retelling of these old-folk stories. Miss Harding 
has drawn a series of charming and characteristic pictures. 

The volume contains the following stories: “Robin and the Merry 
Little Old Woman”; “Robin Goes A-flshing” ; “Robin Hood and 
Little John”; “The Birth of Robin Hood”; “Little John Learns a 
Trade ” ; “ Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow ” ; “ Robin and the 
Tinker ” ; “ Robin Hood and the Stranger ” ; “ Robin Hood and the 
Butcher ” ; “ Robin’s Fastday ” ; “ Robin and Sir Guy of Gisborne ” ; 
“ Robin Hood and Allan A Dale ” ; “ Robin’s Friend, the Knight ” ; 
“ Robin Meets His Match ” ; “ Robin and the Monk ” ; “ Robin and 
Maid Marian.” 


LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, Publishers 

TWO FIFTY-FOUR WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON 





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